Internet satellite launched: Amazon wants to compete with Musk’s Starlink

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This was announced by industrial group United Launch Alliance. Kuiper’s goal is to enable Internet connections in previously undercovered regions. With the project, Amazon wants to compete with the Starlink satellite internet service of US billionaire Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX.

Friday’s test attempted to establish contact between the probes and Earth, deploy solar panels and verify that all devices were operating properly and at desired temperatures. After the tests, the two prototypes are expected to be removed from Earth orbit and burn up when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere.

“This is the first time Amazon is sending a satellite into space,” said Rajeev Badyal, VP of Technology at Kuiper. “No matter how the mission goes, we will learn a tremendous amount.”

According to Amazon, the first truly functional Kuiper satellites are scheduled to launch in early 2024. The company hopes to conduct first tests with customers by the end of next year.

Online giant Amazon, founded by current US billionaire Jeff Bezos, plans to put 3,200 satellites into orbit over the next six years. 10 billion dollars will be invested in the project.

The goal is to provide access to the Internet in remote and underserved areas of the world, including war and disaster zones.

Until now, Musk’s company SpaceX has dominated the business. It launched the first of more than 3,700 operational Starlink satellites into space in 2019. Other companies and governments are also looking at the region with interest. In addition to China, the German start-up company Rivada also wants to send hundreds of satellites into space.

(SDA)

Source :Blick