Amazon has officially entered the satellite internet arena with the launch of its Kuiper Atlas 1 mission, sending 27 Kuiper satellites into orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 7:00 PM local time (2300 GMT) on Monday, following a previous delay caused by inclement weather.
The mission marks a significant milestone for Project Kuiper, Amazon’s $10 billion initiative to build a constellation of 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO)—a region up to 1,200 miles (1,900 km) above Earth. The goal is to begin providing low-cost, high-speed internet service globally, potentially later this year.
Caleb Weiss of ULA described the launch as the beginning of “a new era in internet connectivity,” as Amazon joins a crowded and competitive market dominated by SpaceX’s Starlink, which currently operates more than 6,750 satellites and serves over five million users worldwide.
Amazon, playing catch-up to Starlink’s head start since 2019, has already booked more than 80 launches through various providers including ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX itself. While Kuiper’s pricing remains undisclosed, Amazon has promised to align with its low-cost brand ethos.
Despite the technological promise, experts have raised concerns about space congestion, increased risk of satellite collisions, and interference with astronomical observations, as thousands of satellites continue to populate low Earth orbit. The growing dominance of private tech giants in space also raises complex political and geopolitical questions — especially as figures like Elon Musk influence global conflicts, such as his mixed signals about Starlink’s use in Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
As Kuiper scales up, it will compete not only with Starlink, but also with OneWeb (Europe) and Guowang (China), in what is quickly becoming a high-stakes race for global internet dominance from orbit.
