Amazon’s opponent to Satellite Service Satellite is a rocket planning: how to watch tonight

Amazon plans to start 27 satellites with low -earth orbit tonight as part of Kuiper projectS The startup window is set for Wednesday, April 9, between 7pm and 9pm ET (4 to 6 pm PT), depending on the weather and other factors.

The launch mission, “KA-01” or Kuiper Atlas 1, will be on the Atlas V Rocket Allas V rocket and will be held at the Cape Canaveral Space Force station, Amazon said. Have Mission Page for Updates At the start, it plans to rent.

You can watch the launch launch on the mission page or onwards YouTubeS

This will be a big step forward for the project that Amazon announced in 2019 with promises of a $ 10 billion in investmentS The company is now ready to enter the race to provide Satellite internet servicespace currently dominated by SpaceX Starlinkaround 7000 satellitesS Amazon’s plans require 3200 satellites to be expanded over 80 launches. The company intends to provide Internet service With this technology later this year.

More competition will improve internet services

The literal space race that includes Starlink, Amazon and other companies such as Viasat., HughesnetEutelsat and China Spaceail can mean more Internet services in distant and rural areas that have limited broadband opportunities. Although Starlink is a leader in space, some of these other companies continue to launch satellites and work to implement high -speed internet in more markets like Brazil. With more players on the market, it can mean more quickly and more expensive internet In more areas, although whether this is actually visible to consumers, it remains to be seen.

Mahdi EslamimehrExecutive Vice President at Quandary Peak Research and assistant professor at the USC Computer Science Department, said Amazon is well ready to face Starlink. “Amazon has concluded extensive launch agreements with large suppliers such as United Launch Alliance (ULA), ARIANSPACE, BLUE Origin, and even Spacex itself, positioning Kuiper as a major challenge due to its expansive infrastructure and significant resources.”

He said: “While Starlink is currently enjoying a clear market leadership, he is facing increasing competition with well-capitalized and strategically agile competitors, especially China, suggesting that the market will become significantly more competitive in the near future.”

So far, Amazon’s satellite efforts, Eslamimehr said, are promising and successful, at least in the stages of the prototype. The company also tests Amazon Web Services in space. “These developments collectively emphasize Amazon’s stable entry into the satellite web market and reflect the positive early pulse in its overall space strategy.”

Beyond how he strives against Starlink and other companies, Amazon’s satellite launches are significant in other ways. Eslamimehr said: “Project Kuiper is not just about competition; it is positioned as a critical step towards closing the global digital division, promising to provide high -speed internet to undervalued communities around the world.”

Correction, April 4: A more version of this story incorrectly utters the name of the USC professor and the Vice President of Peak Research Peak. Its name is Mahdi Eslamimehr.