On Friday afternoon, test satellites for Project Kuiper network, which will rival Elon Musk’s Starlink, were launched
On Friday, Amazon initiated the launch of its first two prototype satellites into space as part of a competitive endeavor against Elon Musk’s SpaceX in establishing a vast network of broadband internet-providing satellites. The test satellites were scheduled for liftoff from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station within a two-hour window starting at 2 pm EDT (6 pm GMT) and were launched promptly at the beginning of this timeframe.
These two satellites, referred to as Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2, will be positioned in an orbit approximately 311 miles (500 km) above the Earth’s surface. While in orbit, they will undergo various system tests, deploy solar arrays to generate power, and make efforts to transmit internet connections from space to a customer terminal on Earth.
Rajeev Badyal, the Vice President of Technology for Project Kuiper, expressed, “This marks Amazon’s inaugural venture into satellite deployment, and we anticipate gaining invaluable insights, regardless of the mission’s outcome.” Amazon’s objective with this project is to deliver high-speed internet connectivity “to communities globally that currently lack or have limited access to traditional internet and communication services.”
These prototype satellites are a component of Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a communication network set to encompass over 3,200 satellites launched over the next six years. According to the terms of Amazon’s license with the US Federal Communications Commission, they must have at least half of the Project Kuiper satellites in orbit by mid-2026. The company aspires to commence service for certain customers by late 2024.
Nonetheless, the project faces a substantial challenge. Its primary competitor, SpaceX, already has approximately 5,000 satellites orbiting as part of its Starlink broadband network, while OneWeb, owned by the UK government, has nearly 650 satellites in orbit.
The project itself faced setbacks as Amazon had originally intended to launch Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2 using a rocket from ABL Space Systems last year. Unfortunately, the rocket experienced a failure during its initial launch. Subsequently, Amazon relocated its satellites to ULA’s Vulcan Centaur inaugural mission, which was also delayed until late 2023.
Satellite internet is frequently heralded as the future of internet connectivity, as it has the potential to bridge the digital divide by offering high-speed internet access to individuals living in rural or hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, this technology could serve as a crucial backup when natural disasters like hurricanes disrupt communication networks.
However, the race to deploy a “megaconstellation” comprising thousands of satellites has raised concerns within the scientific community. Some astronomers have advocated for limiting the number of low-altitude satellites to mitigate light pollution and preserve our ability to study the night sky. A conference organized by the International Astronomical Union this week aimed to address these concerns about the impact of extensive satellite constellations on the night sky, acknowledging that while there are substantial potential benefits for humanity, there are also significant associated concerns.
Furthermore, there are apprehensions regarding relying on the world’s satellite communications being subject to the decisions of two long-standing rival billionaires with ambitious agendas. In the recent past, Musk openly confirmed that he had denied access to his Starlink network to prevent a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian naval fleet. Musk had previously made threats to suspend Starlink communications during different phases of the conflict, but his admission marked the first instance where he actually interrupted Ukrainian forces in the midst of a specific operation.
