Amazon has successfully launched its second batch of Kuiper internet satellites into low Earth orbit, marking another step forward in its ambitious Project Kuiper. The satellites were carried into space by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, which lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The launch occurred at 6:54 a.m. ET and was broadcast via livestream, with ULA confirming the successful deployment of the 27 satellites. This mission had faced delays due to adverse weather conditions and a technical issue with the rocket booster.
Project Kuiper was first announced by Amazon six years ago as a plan to deploy thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit to provide global internet coverage. The initiative is a direct competitor to Elon Musk’s Starlink, which currently holds a significant lead in the satellite internet market with about 8,000 active satellites. Amazon’s Kuiper satellites are intended to serve customers in areas with limited or no access to traditional broadband services.
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With the addition of these 27 satellites, Amazon now has 54 Kuiper satellites orbiting the Earth. This is only a fraction of the company’s larger goal of building a constellation of 3,236 satellites. According to U.S. Federal Communications Commission regulations, Amazon must launch at least half of this constellation—1,618 satellites—by July 2026 in order to retain its license to operate the network.
To meet this aggressive timeline, Amazon has secured over 80 future satellite launches with multiple aerospace companies, including an agreement with SpaceX, despite the rivalry between their satellite internet ventures. These launches are critical to scaling the Kuiper network and making it operational in the near future, as Amazon positions itself to challenge Starlink’s dominance in the growing space-based internet market.
