Amazon to challenge Starlink with first satellite launch next week
Amazon’s Project Kuiper is set to launch its initial batch of 27 space internet satellites next week, marking the commencement of its challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink. With 80 planned launch missions, Amazon aims to establish a low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation capable of delivering high-speed, low-latency internet services “later this year.”
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The KA-01 mission, launching aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, is scheduled for April 9th, pending favourable conditions at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Amazon’s launch partners also include Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX.
Amazon’s global service will provide internet access from “virtually any location,” utilizing terminal antennas. The company’s smallest seven-inch square dish, weighing one pound, will offer speeds up to 100Mbps, positioning it as a Starlink Mini alternative. Larger dishes, supporting speeds up to 1Gbps, will cater to residential and enterprise users. Amazon anticipates terminal production costs below $400, with potential subsidies to attract customers.
Amazon’s first-generation system will comprise over 3,200 LEO satellites, orbiting at 27,000 km/h at an altitude of 630km, completing a revolution every 90 minutes. This contrasts with SpaceX’s Starlink, which currently boasts over 7,000 LEO satellites launched since 2019.
The KA-01 satellites feature a “dielectric mirror film unique to Kuiper,” designed to minimize reflected sunlight and reduce visibility for ground-based astronomers.
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While Amazon has previously launched prototype satellites, the upcoming mission represents a significant milestone with inherent risks. “We’ve done extensive testing… but there are some things you can only learn in flight,” stated Rajeev Badyal, VP of Project Kuiper. “This will be the first time we’ve flown our final satellite design and the first time we’ve deployed so many satellites at once.”
Badyal emphasized the mission’s role in gathering crucial data for future launches, stating, “No matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey, and we have all the pieces in place to learn and adapt as we prepare to launch again and again over the coming years.”
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