Amazon's Kuiper satellite internet: a new Starlink competitor entering orbit?

UPD 2: Atlas 5 rocket successfully delivers first 27 satellites Project Kuiper into orbit on April 28.

UPD: launch of the first batch of satellites Project Kuiper was canceled on April 9 due to bad weather at Cape Canaveral, Florida. It has been rescheduled for April 28.

Amazon is preparing for a major milestone in the development of its own satellite internet network, Project Kuiper , today, April 9th, when an Atlas 5 rocket carrying the first 27 satellites will launch from Cape Canaveral. According to Reuters , the launch will mark the beginning of a large-scale deployment of a constellation of satellites designed to compete with Starlink.

What is known about the project?

Project Kuiper aims to create a network of more than 3,000 satellites in low Earth orbit that will provide high-speed internet around the world. The first major launch, called “ Kuiper Atlas 1 ,” will be carried out using a rocket from United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The agreement to launch the satellites was signed back in 2022.

The company notes that all stages of the launch have been thoroughly tested beforehand, but this flight will be the first test of the final version of the Kuiper satellites in real conditions. It is also the first time the company has launched so many devices at once.

What's next?

Amazon announced Project Kuiper back in 2019 and plans to invest over $10 billion in it. Interestingly, the project is being worked on by a team of engineers who previously participated in the creation of Starlink. And while SpaceX already has a significant advantage in the number of satellites launched and market coverage, Amazon is betting on its own experience to scale the project and offer convenient terminals for end users.

Amazon has already successfully launched two prototype satellites in 2023, and today's flight opens a new phase - the transition to full-scale network deployment.