Amazon Launches First Project Kuiper Satellites in Race to Rival Starlink
Amazon has officially kicked off Project Kuiper by launching its first 27 production satellites into low-Earth orbit, a major step in its $10 billion plan to deliver internet from space. The satellites lifted off Monday evening aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. They’ll eventually join a planned 3,236-satellite network aimed at providing broadband to consumers, businesses, and governments worldwide — especially in areas where internet access is limited or unavailable.
This launch puts Amazon in direct competition with Elon Musk’s Starlink, which already has over 8,000 satellites in orbit and millions of users. Though Amazon started later, it has secured launch contracts with multiple providers, including ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin, and even SpaceX. CEO Andy Jassy sees Kuiper as a potential new pillar of the company alongside AWS and e-commerce, while Jeff Bezos has called the satellite market big enough for multiple winners.
However, Kuiper is on a tight schedule. Amazon must deploy at least half its constellation — over 1,600 satellites — by mid-2026 to meet a U.S. FCC deadline. With past manufacturing delays and a launch timeline already behind schedule, analysts expect Amazon to request an extension. Still, the company is optimistic and says it expects to begin providing internet service later this year.
