The anticipated inaugural launch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper did not push through last April 9 as inclement weather postponed its flight, but the company has rescheduled it to happen still within this month.
As April is fast approaching its end, Amazon is not letting go of this opportunity to bring their first satellite internet service.
Once Project Kuiper arrives later this year, Amazon will be one of the many American companies who are pushing to make internet connection more accessible to users, and it will be clashing heads with one of the industry’s titans, Starlink.
Amazon Project Kuiper Delay: New Schedule Confirmed
Last week, United Launch Alliance (ULA) has revealed that it finally has a new schedule for the Project Kuiper launch after going radio silent since the April 9 launch was scrubbed due to weather issues.
The satellites’ launch will still take place this month, particularly by April 28, and it will feature the first production satellites from Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
According to ULA, the flight is scheduled at 7 p.m. EDT, and it will open with a two-hour launch window for the mission. The launch is also set to take place at Space Launch Complex-41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper Still Flying With ULA
This confirmation marks the continued partnership that Amazon and ULA have forged for Project Kuiper’s progression, with the space company set to deliver the satellite internet machines later this month.
Similar to other satellite internet services, ULA will bring Amazon’s Project Kuiper to the low-Earth orbit (LEO), joining the other contenders in the market.
This would be the first batch of production satellites under Project Kuiper that will be delivered to orbit, with this also marking ULA’s new chapter in commercial launches for partner companies like Amazon.
Amazon Project Kuiper vs. Starlink
Two years ago, Amazon launched their first foray into satellite internet technology under Project Kuiper, and it went with United Launch Alliance with their Atlas V rocket to bring their prototypes to orbit.
However, several months later, Amazon took down the first two satellites that it tested. Despite this, the company plans to launch as much as 3,000 units to space.
Despite all these, Elon Musk’s Starlink is known for thriving in the industry as the company not only expanded its reach to different corners of the globe but is also widely available in many regions. Apart from this, SpaceX has also debuted Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology that bypasses the need for a terminal to connect to the internet, with the company known for partnering with T-Mobile for the service’s availability in US.
While Starlink is clearly ahead of Project Kuiper, this does not hold back Amazon from still pursuing the satellite internet industry with their technology. Moreover, Amazon has also introduced the terminals that will be available to purchase once it starts the service, with more to follow in the future.
Source: Tech Times / Digpu NewsTex