Amazon is set to launch its first two test satellites this week as part of the Kuiper Project.
The company aims to challenge SpaceX’s Starlink with a strong network of its own satellites.
The launch will happen in Florida using an Atlas V rocket from United Launch Alliance.
This event will be Kuiper’s first flight test. Amazon plans to invest over $10 billion in this project.
Like Starlink, Kuiper aims to cover Earth with 3,236 low-orbit satellites. Customers can use small terminals to connect to Kuiper’s future satellites.
While Starlink has many users, it’s unclear if Amazon can replicate that success. Brian Weeden, a space expert, shares this view.
He warns that SpaceX’s success doesn’t guarantee Amazon’s.
The original plan called for a launch last year. A failure with ABL Space Systems changed those plans.
Amazon then switched to the Atlas V rocket. Time is a factor. Amazon must launch half its network by mid-2026 to meet FCC regulations.
According to Quilty Analytics, each Kuiper satellite weighs between 1,300 and 1,500 pounds.
This is much lighter than Atlas V’s full capability. Caleb Henry from Quilty Analytics sees this as overkill, pointing to Amazon’s urgency.
Shareholder Sued Amazon
In an unprecedented move, Amazon secured up to 83 rocket launches. They’re using three different providers for these.
However, it’s still uncertain if Amazon can move fast enough. Last August, a shareholder sued Amazon.
The claim centered on not considering SpaceX’s more affordable rockets due to a rivalry between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk.
To sum up, the commercial space internet sector is uncertain. SpaceX boasts over 2 million active users, but this figure doesn’t compare to terrestrial providers.
Weeden questions how many people can afford such a service.
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