BREVARD COUNTY, Florida. – Amazon is investing another $19.5 million to build a warehouse and processing facility at the Kennedy Space Center for Project Kuiper, an internet satellite constellation not unlike SpaceX’s Starlink.

Following a 2023 groundbreaking for a $120 million, 100,000-square-foot facility at the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility, the cost of building the site has now risen to nearly $140 million, along with plans for a 40,000-square-foot secondary support facility to ensure reliable and on-time launches of Project Kuiper missions.

Project Kuiper’s mission is essentially to “deliver high-speed, low-latency broadband to customers and communities around the world,” Amazon said in a press release. Using rockets from the United Launch Alliance, Amazon is working toward the goal of launching a constellation of internet satellites with approximately 3,232 units. Internet service for Project Kuiper’s customers and completion of the facility itself are both expected in 2025, according to Amazon.

“Expanding Project Kuiper infrastructure investments at Space Florida’s launch and landing facility not only underscores our commitment to providing reliable broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world, but also reinforces Florida’s position as a hub for space innovation and job creation,” said Brian Huseman, Amazon’s vice president of public policy and community engagement, in a statement. “We extend our sincere gratitude to Governor Ron DeSantis, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez and Space Florida CEO Rob Long for their leadership and look forward to paving the way for a more connected future.”

(EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (free) | PINIT! Share your photos)

The press release added that Amazon is investing in infrastructure and service upgrades for a second ULA vertical integration facility that will be used for Project Kuiper launches. The new facility, called “VIF-A” (where “A” stands for “Amazon”), will allow ULA to prepare for two missions in parallel, using the new Vulcan Centaur rocket.

However, regarding this exclusivity, Amazon has clarified that its satellite processing facility will be capable of carrying payloads on rockets from Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA alike.

The headlines of the day in a few minutes with Your Florida daily newspaper: