Amazon turns to rival SpaceX to launch next batch of Kuiper internet satellites

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United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the archetypal 2 objection satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband net constellation stands acceptable for motorboat connected pad 41 astatine Cape Canaveral Space Force Station connected October 5, 2023 successful Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States.

Paul Hennessey | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

As Amazon chases SpaceX successful the net outer market, the e-commerce and computing elephantine is present counting connected Elon Musk's rival institution to get its adjacent batch of devices into space.

On Wednesday, upwind permitting, 24 Kuiper satellites volition hitch a thrust connected 1 of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets from a launchpad connected Florida's Space Coast. A 27-minute motorboat model for the mission, dubbed "KF-01," opens astatine 2:18 a.m. ET.

The motorboat volition beryllium livestreamed connected X, the societal media level besides owned by Musk.

The ngo marks an antithetic alliance. SpaceX's Starlink is presently the ascendant supplier of debased world orbit outer internet, with a constellation of astir 8,000 satellites and astir 5 cardinal customers worldwide.

Amazon launched Project Kuiper successful 2019 with an purpose to supply broadband net from a constellation of much than 3,000 satellites. The institution is moving nether a choky deadline imposed by the Federal Communications Commission that requires it to person astir 1,600 satellites successful orbit by the extremity of July 2026.

Amazon's archetypal 2 Kuiper launches came successful April and June, sending 27 satellites each clip aboard rockets supplied by United Launch Alliance.

Assuming Wednesday's motorboat is simply a success, Amazon volition person a full of 78 satellites successful orbit. In bid to conscionable the FCC's choky deadline, Amazon needs to rapidly manufacture and deploy satellites, securing a hefty magnitude of capableness from rocket providers. Kuiper has booked up to 83 launches, including 3 rides with SpaceX.

Space has emerged arsenic a battleground betwixt Musk and Amazon laminitis Jeff Bezos, 2 of the world's richest men. Aside from Kuiper, Bezos besides competes with Musk via his rocket institution Blue Origin.

Blue Origin successful January sent up its monolithic New Glenn rocket for the archetypal time, which is intended to rival SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rockets. While Blue Origin presently trails SpaceX, Bezos last twelvemonth predicted his latest task volition 1 time beryllium bigger than Amazon, which helium started successful 1994.

Kuiper has go 1 of Amazon's biggest bets, with much than $10 cardinal earmarked for the project. The institution whitethorn request to walk arsenic overmuch arsenic $23 cardinal to physique its afloat constellation, analysts astatine Bank of America wrote successful a enactment to clients past week. That fig doesn't see the outgo of gathering terminals, which consumers volition usage to link to the service.

The analysts estimation Amazon is spending $150 cardinal per motorboat this year, portion outer accumulation costs are projected to full $1.1 cardinal by the 4th quarter.

Amazon is going aft a marketplace that's expected to turn to astatine slightest $40 cardinal by 2030, the analysts wrote, citing estimates by Boston Consulting Group. The steadfast estimated that Amazon could make $7.1 cardinal successful income from Kuiper by 2032 if it claims 30% of the market.

"With Starlink's coagulated aboriginal growth, our estimates could beryllium conservative," the analysts wrote.

WATCH: Amazon launches archetypal Kuiper net satellites into space

Amazon launches archetypal  Kuiper net  satellites into space

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