In rare team-up, Elon Musk's SpaceX launches batch of 24 Amazon's Kuiper satellites
The Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, US, at approximately 2:18 am ET (11:48 am India time) with 24 of Amazon's Kuiper satellites on-board the SpaceX rocket. The launch was part of the mission dubbed KF-01.
'Successful deployment of all KF-01 satellites confirmed,' wrote SpaceX in a post on X. With the recent launch, Amazon Kuiper now has a total of 78 low Earth constellation (LEO) satellites in-orbit. Its plans involve placing more than 3,200 internet satellites in low Earth orbit to form a first-generation constellation network and provide satellite-based internet.
Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, has a network comprising around 8,000 satellites.
Though the two firms are primary competitors in the satellite internet market, the rare collaboration with SpaceX signals Kuiper's rush to deploy half of its initial constellation because the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has required the company to have at least 1,600 satellites in orbit by the end of July 2026.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/3lB7Zz4S2b
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 16, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
In 2023, Amazon faced a lawsuit from shareholders for not considering SpaceX as a potential contractor to help dole out its first batch of internet satellites using Falcon 9, which is said to be its most reliable rocket.
Two months later, the Jeff Bezos-founded company inked a three-year deal with SpaceX for satellite launches. Kuiper also has similar arrangements with other launch providers such as United Launch Alliance (ULA), Arianespace, and Blue Origin (Bezos' other company).
While Blue Origin has built a booster rocket called Glenn, it has only flown once so far and the company reportedly failed to recover the booster. The second launch of Blue Origin's rocket is scheduled to take place on August 15.
Deployment of 26 @Starlink satellites confirmed pic.twitter.com/I68Pa2PTIh
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 16, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Meanwhile, Space on Tuesday, July 14, launched 26 of its own Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. The lift off was at its base in southern California, US. With around 8,000 active Starlink satellites in orbit already, SpaceX has a megaconstellation for offering satellite-based internet. The company plans to deploy an additional 30,000 spacecraft, but it has received regulatory approval to launch only 12,000 units at present.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
13 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Lava Blaze Dragon 5G launched with Snapdragon 4 Gen 2: Check price, specs
Indian smartphone maker Lava has launched Blaze Dragon 5G in the budget price segment. This newly launched smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset and sports a 6.74-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. For optics, the Lava Blaze Dragon 5G features a dual camera setup on the back headlined by a 50MP sensor, complemented by an 8MP selfie camera. Lava Blaze Dragon 5G: Price and availability 4GB RAM + 128GB Storage: Rs 9,999 Colour: Golden Mist, Midnight Mist As for offers, consumers can avail a Rs 1,000 bank discount on Amazon's partner bank during their Great Freedom Festival, along with an additional Rs 1,000 off on the exchange of any smartphone, not limited to a Lava device. The Lava Blaze Dragon 5G will go on sale starting August 1, exclusively on Amazon. Lava Blaze Dragon 5G: Details The Lava Blaze Dragon 5G sports a 6.74-inch 2.5D display (720 x 1612 resolution) with a 120Hz refresh rate and a brightness of 450 nits. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip, paired with 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It runs the stock Android 15 with zero bloatware. The Lava Blaze Dragon 5G sports a dual camera setup on the back, led by a 50MP AI camera and a 2MP macro lens. As for the front camera, it features an 8MP sensor. The smartphone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 18W charging support. Lava has promised to deliver one software update (Android 16) and security updates for two years. Lava Blaze Dragon 5G: Specifications Display: 6.74-inch 2.5D screen, 720 × 1612 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 450 nits brightness Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 RAM: 4GB LPDDR4x Storage: 128GB UFS 3.1 Operating System: Android 15 (stock) Primary camera: 50MP Front Camera: 8MP Battery: 5000mAh Charging: 18W
Mint
13 minutes ago
- Mint
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Flip 7 series go on sale in India following record pre-orders: Check bank offers and pricing
Samsung has recently launched its latest foldable smartphones and smartwatches in India. The new devices, unveiled at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event on 9 July, are now available for purchase across the country. The lineup includes the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, and the Galaxy Watch 8 series. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is available in three configurations. The base variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage is priced at ₹ 1,74,999. The 12GB + 512GB version costs ₹ 1,86,999, while the top-end model featuring 16GB RAM and 1TB of storage is priced at ₹ 2,16,999. The device is being offered in Blue Shadow, Jetblack, and Silver Shadow, with an exclusive Mint colour available for online buyers. While the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Samsung's clamshell-style foldable, starts at ₹ 1,09,999 for the 12GB + 256GB configuration. The 12GB + 512GB model is priced at ₹ 1,21,999. Colour options for the Flip 7 include Blue Shadow, Coral Red, Jetblack, and Mint, the latter being limited to online platforms. Samsung has also introduced a more affordable foldable, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE. It is priced at ₹ 89,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant and ₹ 95,999 for the 8GB + 256GB model. Buyers can choose between black and white finishes for this device. Alongside the smartphones, the company launched the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic starts at ₹ 46,999 for the Bluetooth model and ₹ 50,999 for the LTE version. It comes in black and white colour options. The Galaxy Watch 8 is available in two sizes and connectivity options. The 40mm Bluetooth variant is priced at ₹ 32,999, while the 44mm Bluetooth model costs ₹ 35,999. The LTE variants are priced at ₹ 36,999 for 40mm and ₹ 39,999 for 44mm. Available colours include Graphite and Silver. According to Samsung, the latest foldable smartphones received 2,10,000 pre-orders in the first 48 hours of availability. The company claims this marks a new high for its Galaxy Z series, nearing the pre-order figures previously recorded by the Galaxy S25 series launched earlier this year. All of the newly released devices can now be purchased through Samsung's official website, Amazon, Flipkart, and authorised offline retailers across India.
India.com
13 minutes ago
- India.com
Elon Musk's big bet! Tesla to bring ‘cheap' electric cars to increase…, know when will they be launched
Tesla's sales have been declining, and to counter this, the company is preparing to launch more affordable electric cars. After falling demand for Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla is facing challenges in markets like China and Europe. Production of the new, cheaper model is expected to begin in 2025. Tesla's sales are dropping, and to tackle this issue and boost overall sales, the company will enter the market with cheaper EVs. In its Q2 2025 financial results, Tesla informed investors that it had 'begun manufacturing a more affordable model in June.' Due to the low demand for Model 3 and Model Y, Elon Musk's company is struggling in key markets like China and Europe. Elon Musk's Plan For Tesla Cars Tesla stated that it has begun work on a more affordable model that will be positioned below the Model 3 and Model Y. The company revealed that large-scale production of this new EV is scheduled for the second half of 2025, wherein initial production will begin in the first half of 2025 (1H2025). Initially, Tesla had planned to build the affordable EV on a new platform. However, the new model will now use the existing architecture of the Model 3 and Model Y. It is expected to be a stripped-down version with fewer features. In terms of size, the new EV will be smaller than the Model Y. Testing of this affordable model has also begun. Elon Musk Hopes For Comeback This isn't the first time Tesla has announced plans to enter the affordable EV segment. According to Electrek , the company had earlier worked on a similar plan, which was later scrapped by Musk. That project was popularly referred to as the '$25,000 Tesla' with the codenames NV91 and NV92. Tesla was initially developing it on a new platform, but Musk eventually rejected it. However, Musk is now hopeful that Tesla will make a strong comeback in the European market, especially as he anticipates approval for the company's autonomous self-driving technology.
