Amazon Launches First Internet Satellite

Amazon has achieved the successful launch of its first internet satellite, according to the United Launch Alliance.

The Atlas V rocket, operated by the aerospace manufacturer, carried two satellites from Amazon's Project Kuiper into low Earth orbit.

The mission, named Protoflight, took off at 2:06 PM Eastern Time from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Amazon has been working on Project Kuiper, an internet satellite initiative similar to Starlink, for some time. It previously planned to launch initial prototypes by the end of last year.

The company sees Protoflight as a significant educational opportunity, allowing them to gather real-world data (or, more accurately, out-of-this-world data) from space.

This data will complement laboratory and field test results, giving Amazon greater insights into how the network performs across Earth and space.

This launch serves as a test for satellite processing, launch operations, and the mission itself. Once the mission is complete, Amazon will deorbit both satellites before they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

Amazon's goal with Project Kuiper is to provide fast and affordable broadband coverage to underserved and marginalized communities worldwide.

After receiving approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Amazon plans to deploy over 3,200 satellites over the next six years.

The initial models, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, are the first iterations, with production satellites expected to launch in the first half of 2024 and begin experimental testing with select customers by the end of next year.