UNITED STATES: Early in 2023, Amazon will use a new rocket from the Boeing-Lockheed joint venture, United Launch Alliance, to launch its first two prototype satellites for a planned internet-from-space constellation.
As part of Amazon’s Kuiper network, a constellation of 3,236 low-Earth orbiting (LEO) spacecraft intended to beam broadband internet to rural areas of the world, the prototype satellites will be the first to launch.
To catch up with SpaceX’s rapidly expanding Starlink network, which is currently providing internet access to thousands of users in dozens of countries, the corporation has pledged to invest $10 billion in the project.
Amazon’s last-minute choice of ULA’s Vulcan rocket will be a practical trial run with its partner ULA before the 38 future Vulcan missions it ordered from the launch business in 2021 to assist deploy the majority of its operational satellites.
Although Amazon is unsure of what satellites it will use those rockets for, the company’s other contract for at least two launches with the startup ABL is still in effect, a spokesman said.
According to the company’s president, Dan Piemont, ABL finalised specialised work on the Kuiper satellites’ launch adapter and other pieces earlier this year. “That effort is ongoing for future Kuiper launches,” he added further.
SpaceX has already put more than 3,000 Starlink satellites into orbit as part of its ambition to create a vast constellation for internet service targeted at remote locations. In 2022, SpaceX launched more than 25 flights with a Starlink focus.
The 40th launch by SpaceX this year took place on Sunday, and it added to the Starlink mega-constellation. SpaceX has been permitted to launch 12,000 Starlink satellites, and it has requested a global authority for permission to launch a further 30,000.
Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, revealed plans to use Starlink and T-Mobile to beam connectivity directly to cell phones in late August.
Starlink service will be beamed to Royal Caribbean cruise ships under a separate agreement announced on Tuesday, August 30.
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