Miami, June 23 (EFE).– Tech giant Amazon on Monday launched a second batch of 27 satellites as part of its Project Kuiper, aimed at building a “constellation” of more than 3,200 satellites to deliver high-speed internet across the globe and compete with networks like Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The Atlas V rocket, operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA), with which Amazon says it has “the world’s largest commercial launch agreement,” lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 6:54 a.m. local time (10:54 GMT) carrying the satellites into orbit.
The Kuiper-2 “mission marks the next step in Amazon’s initiative to provide fast, reliable internet to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities,” ULA said in a statement.
“ULA, working as a catalyst to global connectivity in collaboration with Amazon, enables delivery of these critical satellites designed to drive innovation and connect the world,” said Gary Wentz, ULA’s vice president for Government and Commercial Programs.
The launch had originally been scheduled a week earlier but was postponed just two hours before liftoff due to a technical issue with the rocket’s propulsion engine.
According to the release, six more Kuiper missions remain on ULA’s Atlas V manifest, which will ultimately deliver more than half of the satellites in Amazon’s 3,200-strong project network.
“We are proud to continue our strong partnership with Amazon and empower their mission to bridge the digital divide through reliable satellite technology,” Wentz added.
The newly launched satellites join the 27 that were placed in orbit on April 28 during the project’s first mission.
Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos, plans to deploy all 3,200+ advanced satellites into low Earth orbit, defined as up to 2,000 kilometers above the planet’s surface, to deliver space-based high-speed internet and rival providers like Musk’s Starlink.
To achieve this, the company has secured over 80 launches through agreements with ULA, Arianespace, SpaceX, and Blue Origin. EFE
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