Amazon successfully launches first Kuiper satellites, challenges SpaceX's Starlink
United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off carrying Amazon's Project Kuiper internet network satellites from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., April 28, 2025.PHOTO: REUTERS
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Amazon on Monday launched its first 27 Project Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit, marking the tech giant's official entry into the satellite internet market dominated by SpaceX's Starlink.
The satellites lifted off aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida just after 7 pm ET.
The successful mission follows a weather delay and represents a key milestone in Amazon's $10 billion plan to deploy more than 3,200 satellites aimed at delivering global internet coverage.
The Kuiper network, first announced six years ago, is Amazon's most ambitious space initiative to date.
The satellites, designed to orbit at approximately 280 miles above Earth, will eventually beam internet service to underserved areas across the globe.
Amazon aims to begin commercial operations by the end of 2025.
Amazon has secured more than 80 rocket launches with various providers—including ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin, and rival SpaceX—to meet a US regulatory requirement to deploy at least half of its constellation by July 2026.
Despite Amazon's late start, the company insists Kuiper will become a key pillar of its broader business ecosystem, including Amazon Web Services and logistics.
CEO Andy Jassy recently told shareholders the project would eventually generate meaningful returns, though Wall Street analysts remain cautious.
Amazon's main competitor, SpaceX's Starlink, already operates over 8,000 satellites and serves more than 4.6 million customers worldwide.
Analysts warn Amazon faces an uphill battle to catch up.
'This is just the beginning,' said Rajeev Badyal, VP of Project Kuiper. 'We're ready to learn, adapt, and scale.'
With geopolitical, commercial, and technological stakes high, Amazon's Kuiper launch signals a new phase in the race to control the future of global internet access.
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