Amazon's third set of operational Kuiper satellites lifted off at 2:30 am EST (06:30 UTC) on Wednesday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket arced downrange over the Atlantic Ocean, heading northeast to place its payload into the Kuiper constellation at an inclination of 51.9 degrees to the equator.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soared into the sky from Cape Canaveral, Florida. While rocket launches from SpaceX have become routine, what made this one stand out was its payload — 24 satellites belonging to Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Kuiper drive momentum in space stocks. Here's a look at recent highlights, news catalysts and upcoming events.