Amazon joins the space race, launches first satellites to rival Musk's Starlink

Amazon has officially entered the space-based internet race, launching the first 27 satellites of its long-awaited Project Kuiper broadband constellation. The satellites, deployed from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, represent Amazon’s most ambitious venture yet to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The launch kicks off Amazon’s $10 billion plan to build a 3,236-satellite network in low-Earth orbit (LEO) to provide high-speed internet access to consumers, businesses, and governments. Like Starlink, the internet will mainly serve remote and underserved areas.

“There’s insatiable demand for internet,” said Amazon founder and executive chair Jeff Bezos in a recent interview. “There’s room for lots of winners. I predict Starlink will continue to be successful, and I predict Kuiper will be successful as well.”

Catching up to Starlink

Starlink, operated by SpaceX, has already launched more than 8,000 satellites and amassed over 5 million users across 125 countries, thanks in part to SpaceX’s unique advantage as both satellite operator and launch provider. Musk’s company now conducts at least one Starlink mission weekly, keeping a lead in deployment speed and market share.

Amazon, by contrast, is years behind, launching its first two prototype Kuiper satellites only in 2023, and de-orbiting them in 2024 after successful tests. Monday’s launch marks the first operational deployment, with the company aiming to begin customer service later this year.

Still, Amazon brings other strengths to the table: a global logistics footprint, deep cloud computing integration via AWS, and affordable user terminals. The company revealed plans to sell Kuiper terminals for under $400, including a Kindle-sized model for portability and a larger vinyl-record-sized antenna for homes and businesses.

Regulatory deadlines and deployment challenges

Amazon faces a tight timeline. Under FCC regulations, it must launch half of its constellation - 1,618 satellites - by mid-2026. Delays have already pushed the project back more than a year from its initial 2024 launch goals, and industry analysts say Amazon may soon request an extension.

Amazon has previously booked 83 rocket launches from a mix of providers like ULA, Arianespace, and Bezos’s own Blue Origin. It’s considered the largest commercial launch deal in history. ULA could conduct up to five more Kuiper launches in 2025, according to ULA CEO Tory Bruno.

Building global network from the ground up

The satellites launched Monday are being monitored from Amazon’s mission operations center in Redmond, Washington, where engineers are expected to confirm contact with each satellite within hours or days.

Service is expected to begin after Amazon reaches a threshold of 578 satellites, initially covering northern and southern latitudes, with expansion toward the equator as launches continue.

“Kuiper is arguably Amazon’s biggest bet underway,” said one company executive. “We’re bringing together our expertise in consumer hardware, cloud infrastructure, and global scale to deliver something truly transformative.”

Project Kuiper is more than a commercial initiative. Bezos acknowledged potential defense applications for Kuiper’s LEO network, echoing how Starlink has attracted military and intelligence clients globally.

As the race for orbital broadband intensifies, Amazon’s entry signals a new phase of competition - one where two of the world’s richest men and their space companies now battle over the future of internet access, both on Earth and beyond.