Amazon Launches First Kuiper Satellites, Eyes 2025 Service

Amazon has launched its first 27 operational Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, marking the company's formal entry into the satellite broadband sector. CEO Andy Jassy confirmed the satellites are functioning as expected, and Amazon expects to begin offering internet services later in 2025. Project Kuiper aims to deploy over 3,200 satellites to provide fast, affordable internet to underserved and remote areas globally. The launch follows years of delays and positions Amazon in direct competition with SpaceX's Starlink, which currently has over 7,000 satellites in orbit and millions of users worldwide. Amazon faces a regulatory deadline to launch half its constellation by mid-2026 but may seek an extension due to its slower rollout. The Kuiper project represents Amazon's largest investment in the space industry and intensifies the race for global satellite internet coverage.