An Atlas 5 rocket with Amazon’s Project Kuiper Protoflight spacecraft lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, Oct. 6, 2023.(AP Photo/Terry Renna)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — Amazon launched the first test satellites for its planned internet service on Friday as a rival to SpaceX’s broadband network.
United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket blasted off with the pair of test satellites, kicking off a program that aims to improve global internet coverage with an eventual 3,236 satellites around Earth. Amazon plans to begin offering service by the end of next year.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has a significant advantage over Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, his own rocket company.
SpaceX sent its first test Starlink satellites in 2018 and the first operational satellites in 2019. Since then, it has launched over 5,000 Starlinks from Florida and California, utilizing its own Falcon rockets.
Europe’s Eutelsat OneWeb is also deploying internet satellites, currently having around 600 in orbit.
Originally, Amazon planned to put the satellites on the debut launch of ULA’s Vulcan rocket. However, due to issues delaying the Vulcan launch until at least the end of this year, Amazon switched to the more established Atlas V rocket. The Federal Communications Commission, which licensed the program, stipulated that at least half of the planned satellites must be operational by 2026 and all of them by 2029.
Amazon has reserved 77 launches from ULA, Blue Origin, and Europe’s Arianespace to complete its satellite deployment.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
