Amazon is gearing up to launch its first internet satellites in the first half of 2024, joining the likes of SpaceX in the race to provide broadband internet services globally. The company’s satellite internet unit, Project Kuiper, plans to manufacture its first satellites later this year, with a total of over 3,000 satellites to be launched in low-Earth orbit in the coming years. Here are the details…

Amazon targets 2024 launch of first Kuiper internet satellites

Amazon aims to test the satellites with commercial customers in 2024 and produce “three to five” satellites a day to meet regulatory demands to launch half its Kuiper network by 2026. With over $10 billion invested in the Kuiper network, Amazon’s expertise in consumer electronics gives it an edge over competitors like SpaceX, which already has roughly 4,000 satellites in space. Amazon plans to launch a pair of prototype satellites in 2023, followed by the deployment of the initial production satellites in 2024 using rockets procured in recent years.

This move by Amazon could provide high-speed internet to areas with little or no connectivity, improving access to education, business, and personal communication. While Amazon’s plans to launch its own satellite internet network is an exciting development, it also raises concerns about the potential for space debris.

With thousands of satellites planned to be launched, experts have warned about the increased risk of collisions and the creation of space junk that could pose a threat to other spacecraft and even astronauts. As such, it will be important for Amazon and other companies to prioritize responsible space practices and work with regulatory bodies to mitigate these risks and ensure the sustainability of space activities.

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