Starlink competitor: Amazon launches first Kuiper satellite systems

Amazon has launched the first batch of satellites of the new Kuiper satellite Internet system into orbit. It is expected to become a competitor to Starlink.

The batch of 27 satellites, placed aboard an Atlas V rocket, jointly produced by Boeing and Lockheed Martin United Launch Alliance, was launched at 19:00 local time from the rocket company’s launch pad at Cape Canaveral Spaceport in Florida.

Amazon first announced its intention to create a satellite constellation designed to provide global broadband Internet access in 2019.

It was named Project Kuiper. In its initial configuration, the constellation will consist of 3,226 satellites. It can be further expanded by adding new satellites.

The first two prototype Kuiper satellites were launched in 2023.

The experience gained during their operation was used to create the serial satellites that will form the backbone of the system.

They are also covered with a special dielectric mirror film. It scatters reflected sunlight, which should make them less visible to astronomers who are actively opposed to the rapidly growing constellations of low-orbiting satellites, claiming that they interfere with observations.

The first stages

After several postponements due to bad weather, the first batch of 27 payloads was launched on April 28 from the Cape Canaveral launch site.

An Atlas V rocket successfully launched them into an initial 450-kilometer orbit. Later, they will use their own engines to reach a working 630-kilometer orbit.

This is just the first step in building the Kuiper system. Over the next few years, there will be seven more Atlas V launches and 38 launches on the Vulcan Centaur rocket. More than 30 more launches are planned for Ariane 6, New Glenn, and Falcon 9 rockets.

The total value of Kuiper’s launch contracts for deploying vehicles exceeds $10 billion.

Earlier, it was reported that the European satellite network Eutelsat will not be able to completely replace the American Starlink terminals in the Ukrainian military.