Amazon Begins Trials of Internet Service to Rival SpaceX
On Friday, Amazon initiated the deployment of its initial test satellites for its upcoming internet service, aiming to compete with SpaceX’s broadband network.
United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket blasted off with two test satellites, launching a program that aims to improve global Internet coverage with potentially 3,236 satellites around the country.
Amazon plans to start offering the service by the end of next year.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has a huge lead over Amazon and its founder Jeff Bezos, who has his own rocket company, Blue Origin.
SpaceX flew its first Starlink test satellites in 2018 and its first operational satellites in 2019. It has since launched more than 5,000 Starlink satellites from Florida and California using its own Falcon rockets.
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Europe’s Eutelsat OneWeb also launches Internet satellites, of which about 600 are in orbit.
Amazon initially agreed to put the satellites on the debut launch of ULA’s Vulcan rocket. But with the Vulcan grounded by problems at least until the end of this year, Amazon switched to the long-established Atlas V.
In licensing the program, the Federal Communications Commission mandated that at least half of the planned satellites be operational by 2026 and all by 2029.
Amazon has booked 77 launches from ULA, Blue Origin and Europe’s Arianespace to get it all up.
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