Amazon successfully launched 27 satellites in low orbit Monday evening as part of the Kuiper project, which will provide large satellite services. The launch mission, Ka-01 or Kuiper Atlas 1, used a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and started its trip from Space Force Cape Canaveral station in Florida.
Missed the launch? You can look at the replay on the project mission page or on YouTube.
On April 28, Amazon launched 27 satellites with low orbit in space as part of its efforts to start a satellite-internet business.
The technology and space giant was forced to abandon its original launch date of April 9 after poor weather conditions. “The weather is observed and forecasts not for takeoff in the remaining launch window in Cape Canaveral,” said United Launch Alliance at the time. “The stubborn cumulus clouds and the persistent winds make the takeoff not possible in the available window.”
Look at this: Internet satellites of the Amazon Kuiper project take off on Ula Rocket
It is a big step forward for the project, which Amazon announced in 2019 with promises of an investment of $ 10 billion. Now, the company is entering the race to provide a satellite internet service, a space currently dominated by Starlink de Spacex, which has 7,000 satellites. Amazon’s plans provide that 3,200 satellites are deployed on 80 launches. The company intends to provide Internet service With this technology later this year.
Look at this: Internet satellites of the Amazon Kuiper project take off on Ula Rocket
More competition could improve satellite internet
The race for literal space, which includes Starlink, Amazon and other companies such as ViaSat,, HughesnetEutelsat and China Spaces Wail, could mean greater availability of Internet services in distant and rural areas with limited wide -band options. Although Starlink is the space leader, some of these other companies continue to launch satellites and work to deploy high speed internet on more markets, such as Brazil. With more players on the market, this could mean faster and Cheaper internet In more areas, although this has really come out of consumers remains to be seen.
Mahdi eslamimehrExecutive vice-president of When Ary Peak Research and auxiliary professor in the IT department of the USC, said that Amazon is well placed to compete with Starlink.
“Amazon has concluded large launch agreements with major suppliers such as ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin and even SpaceX itself, positioning Kuiper as a major challenger because of its vast infrastructure and significant resources.”
He said: “Although Starlink currently benefits from a clear market leadership, he faces growing competition from well -capitalized and strategically agile competitors, in particular China, suggesting that the market will become much more competitive in the near future.”
So far, Eslamimehr said, Amazon’s satellite efforts have been promising and successful, at least in the prototype stages. The company has also tested Amazon’s web services in space. “These developments collectively highlight Amazon’s robust entry into the internet market of satellites and reflect a positive early momentum in its overall spatial strategy.”
Beyond the way he behaves against Starlink and other companies, Amazon satellite launches are important in other respects. Eslamimehr said: “The Kuiper project is not only a question of competition; it is positioned as a critical step towards the closure of the global digital divide, promising to deliver high speed internet to the badly served communities in the world.”
Correction, April 4: An earlier version of this story has misized the name of the USC teacher and vice-president of research director when Ary Peak. His name is Mahdi Eslamehr.
