Amazon’s Kuiper has officially joined the space communications race, launching its first 27 satellites into orbit aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. These satellites will provide high-speed internet to customers globally and are just the beginning of a planned constellation of 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit.
This milestone comes six years after Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched its Starlink network, which currently has over 8,000 satellites in orbit and offers service in over 125 countries. With more than 5 million users, Starlink remains the dominant player in the space-based communications market.
While Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket company did not launch Kuiper’s satellites, ULA handled the mission. SpaceX’s success with Starlink has even turned Goldman analysts into believers, as they recommend investing in Starlink’s suppliers to capitalize on the growing market.
Competition in the space communications race is expected to drive innovation, but Starlink currently lacks strong competitors. However, with SpaceX’s continued satellite launches, the landscape may change in the near future. Bezos himself uses Starlink terminals on his yacht, highlighting the impact of these advancements in the space industry.