Amazon is set to launch its first entire batch of Project Kuiper satellites next week, marking a key step in its efforts to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The mission, Kuiper Atlas 1, will deploy 27 satellites aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at noon EDT (1600 GMT) on Wednesday, April 9, as announced by Amazon.
The launch will be managed by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a collaboration between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Amazon stated that these satellites represent a major advancement compared to the two prototype satellites tested successfully during an October 2023 mission.
Similar to Starlink, the service aims to offer internet access to remote and underserved regions across the globe, including areas affected by conflict or disasters.
Project Kuiper aims to deliver “high-speed, low-latency internet to virtually any location on the planet,” with service expected to begin later this year, according to Amazon.
Upon completion, Amazon’s constellation will consist of over 3,200 advanced low Earth orbit satellites, according to the company.
This launch positions Amazon in direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink and other satellite internet providers.
SpaceX, led by Musk, launched the first batch of its more than 6,750 operational Starlink satellites in 2019, making it the largest player in the sector.
This will be alongside the European Union’s Iris project, which plans to deploy 170 satellites, and the 300-500 satellites that the US military’s Space Development Agency intends to launch.
The growing number of satellite internet projects, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper, SpaceX’s Starlink, and other global initiatives, signals a new era in satellite connectivity. These efforts aim to provide fast and reliable internet access to underserved and remote areas, potentially transforming global communication networks in the years to come.
