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WG3K > ANS 05.05.25 00:24z 19 Lines 2887 Bytes #999 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS124.2
Read: GUEST
Subj: Amazon Kicks Off Kuiper Network with Ambitious First Satelli
Path: HB9ON<DK0WUE<PI8ZTM<VK2IO<W0ARP<WW4BSA<N3HYM<WG3K
Sent: 250504/2354Z 17080@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
Amazon launched the first 27 satellites for its Kuiper broadband internet constellation on Monday, marking the start of its long-anticipated challenge to SpaceX's Starlink network. The satellites lifted off aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket at 7 p.m. EDT (2300 UTC) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, after an initial launch attempt earlier this month was delayed by weather.
The launch is part of Amazon's $10 billion Project Kuiper, which aims to deploy 3,236 satellites into low-Earth orbit to deliver global broadband service. Unveiled in 2019, the initiative targets consumers, businesses, and governments, a customer base already served by Starlink's rapidly growing presence in the satellite internet market. The service is also being positioned as a vital solution for rural and underserved areas.
Amazon's Kuiper program has experienced more than a year of delays, pushing the inaugural deployment well past its original target of early 2024. Under a Federal Communications Commission mandate, Amazon must launch half of its satellite constellation-1,618 satellites-by mid-2026. Analysts expect the company may need to seek an extension due to its late start.
[https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Amazon-Kuiper-Ina...]https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Amazon-Kuiper-Inaugural-Satellite-Launch.jpg
ULA's Atlas V readies to launch Amazon's first Kuiper satellites from Cape Canaveral. [Credit: ULAhttps://www.ulalaunch.com/ / YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/]
All 27 satellites from Monday's launch are functioning normally, according to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, who confirmed the status on social media nearly seven hours after liftoff. The confirmation marks a key milestone in the project. Amazon expects to begin customer service later this year, assuming deployment and testing continue on schedule.
Amazon could launch up to five additional Kuiper missions in 2025, according to ULA CEO Tory Bruno. The company has indicated that initial service could begin with as few as 578 satellites, enabling limited coverage in northern and southern regions, with global service expanding as more satellites are deployed. Amazon's experience in consumer products and cloud infrastructure is seen by executives as a potential advantage over competitors.
SpaceX, which has launched over 8,000 Starlink satellites since 2019, currently leads the market with more than 5 million users in 125 countries. Despite SpaceX's head start, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos remains optimistic about Kuiper's future. "There's insatiable demand for internet," Bezos said in January. "There's room for lots of winners."
Read the full article at: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/amazon-launches-first-kuiper-...
[ANS thanks the Joey Roulette, Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/, for the above information]
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