In a significant stride towards realizing its vision of a global satellite internet network, Amazon witnessed the launch of its first two satellites for Project Kuiper on Friday, marking a milestone more than four years after the tech giant’s ambitious venture was unveiled.
Project Kuiper, Amazon’s ambitious plan to create a comprehensive satellite internet network comprising 3,236 satellites in low Earth orbit, aims to deliver high-speed internet access worldwide. The company has committed substantial resources, with investments exceeding $10 billion, and recently inaugurated a $120 million pre-launch processing facility in Florida named “Protoflight.”
VP of Kuper is Positive
Rajeev Badyal, Vice President of Technology for Project Kuiper, expressed confidence in the satellite design following extensive laboratory testing but emphasized the significance of on-orbit testing. “There’s no substitute for on-orbit testing,” he remarked in a statement before the launch.
The mission, aptly named “Protoflight,” utilized United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Atlas V rocket to carry two satellites, Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2, into space. The launch took place from ULA’s pad SLC-41 located in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Amazon’s choice of the Atlas V rocket for the Protoflight mission followed several changes in launch plans. Initially intended for ABL Space’s RS1 rocket, the satellites were subsequently slated for United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket. However, delays in Vulcan’s debut led to the decision to employ the immediately available yet more powerful Atlas V rocket for the launch.
Details about the size and design of Amazon’s satellite pair have been relatively scant, with the company only sharing images of the shipping containers used to transport the spacecraft to Florida. ULA has also provided limited information about the launch, maintaining a level of confidentiality akin to their launches of classified U.S. government spy satellites.
As Amazon’s Project Kuiper takes its first tangible steps into orbit, it signifies the company’s determined foray into the satellite internet space, with the potential to revolutionize global connectivity in the coming years.
Amazon launches first two prototype satellites into space | Satellite Internet
Amazon & SpaceX
Amazon’s commitment extends to a staggering 77 launches, encompassing options for additional launches as required, as the company endeavors to fast-track satellite deployment to align with regulatory stipulations. However, this colossal procurement has attracted scrutiny, stemming from a lawsuit filed by an Amazon shareholder. The lawsuit alleges that Amazon sidelined SpaceX in the pursuit of valuable satellite launch contracts, ostensibly due to Jeff Bezos’ personal rivalry with Elon Musk.
The space race between Amazon and SpaceX is heating up, with Amazon striving to close the gap on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, which has already garnered over 2 million subscribers. Notably, SpaceX has recently announced that it will cease subsidizing the cost of the Starlink antennas provided with its service. Furthermore, the fleet of over 5,000 satellites that SpaceX has successfully launched thus far is now serving a diverse clientele, including consumers, enterprises, and government entities.
