Project Kuiper Set to Launch on April 9
Amazon, the company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is preparing to launch its first satellites. The new initiative, called Project Kuiper, aims to provide internet access and compete with Starlink, owned by another billionaire, Elon Musk.
The mission involves launching 27 satellites aboard an Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The launch is scheduled for April 9 at 1:00 PM Brasília time from Cape Canaveral, Florida, according to ULA, which already launched two prototypes for Amazon in 2023.
The 27 satellites are the first batch of a planned constellation of up to 3,200 low-orbit devices that will deliver high-speed internet to remote areas. According to Bezos’ company, the service will be deployed later this year.
Amazon’s goal is to directly compete with Musk’s satellite network. It’s worth noting that Starlink already has over 6,750 devices in orbit, according to its website. It is the global leader in this rapidly growing market.
European company Eutelsat ranks second. Guo Wang and Telesat are competing for a small share of this market.
Source and images: TecMundo / Amazon. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
