Amazon launched 29 broadband satellites aboard the final Atlas V rocket from Florida on Saturday, marking a critical milestone for its Starlink competitor. The mission, operated by United Launch Alliance, completes the initial deployment needed to begin service.
The company has now placed enough satellites in orbit to initiate early service for Project Kuiper, its planned internet constellation. This moves Amazon closer to challenging SpaceX, whose Starlink network already serves millions globally.
The Atlas V rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, carrying the largest single batch of Kuiper satellites to date. These join previously deployed spacecraft to form the constellation's first operational tranche.
Amazon intends to offer broadband internet to underserved regions once the network reaches sufficient capacity. However, the company faces an uphill battle catching up to Starlink's head start in both coverage and subscriber base.
Some analysts question whether Project Kuiper can compete on pricing and latency given SpaceX's manufacturing scale. Amazon has not publicly disclosed its service launch date or pricing.