Project Kuiper, Amazon’s satellite network project, which will provide internet from low orbit, is preparing to perform its first large -scale satellite launch. The company will send 27 satellites of United Launch Alliance, which will be launched from Florida on April 9, with 27 satellites with Atlas V rocket. This is one of the biggest moves of Amazon to become a competitor of SpaceX’s Starlink project. In 2023, the company sent two prototypes to space for test purposes and developed a new generation of satellites in line with the data obtained.

Rajeev Badyal, Vice President of Amazon’s Project Kuiper unit, said, uz We fly our final satellite design for the first time and we are deploying so many satellites at the same time .. On the other hand, the Kuiper Project’s satellite load will be the heaviest burden of the Atlas V rocket to date.

Updated satellite equipment, phase -arranged antennas, advanced processors, more efficient solar panels, impulse systems and optical satellite connections. Amazon also says that he equipped his satellites with a special coating that does not reflect sunlight to relieve astronomers’ concerns.

Speels up to 1 GBPS will be offered

According to Amazon’s claim, Project Kuiper Antennas offer a speed of up to 400 Mbps, while more portable models will connect up to 100 Mbps. In addition, a larger antenna is planned to offer 1 GBPS connection for corporate customers.

But there are great difficulties in front of Amazon. The company has to place 1,600 satellites in orbit until July 2026 to meet the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Otherwise, the project has a risk of losing its license. In addition, the fact that Starlink has already reached more than 5 million subscribers and more than 6,000 satellites makes Amazon’s competition difficult.

The company states that it plans to launch more than 80 in the initial stage. These include Atlas V rocket, as well as Ula’s Vulcan Centaur rockets, Arianespace, Blue Origin and even the rockets of his rival SpaceX. Amazon aims to start offering internet service by the end of the year.