Jeff Bezos may have stepped down as Amazon’s CEO, but his influence continues to drive the company’s ambitious ventures—including a bold move into satellite internet. Amazon’s Project Kuiper, its broadband satellite network, is gearing up for its first major launch on April 9, marking a direct challenge to Elon Musk’s Starlink.
The First Launch: KA-01 Mission
Amazon announced that its KA-01 mission will deploy 27 satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO) aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. The launch, scheduled from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, will position the satellites 280 miles (450 km) above Earth.
This is just the beginning—Amazon plans to expand its constellation to over 3,200 satellites, with 80+ launches secured to build out the network. If successful, Project Kuiper could begin offering high-speed, low-latency internet to customers by late 2025.
How Project Kuiper Could Disrupt Starlink
SpaceX’s Starlink, which launched its first test satellites in 2018, currently dominates the satellite internet market with over 7,000 operational satellites and plans to expand to 12,000. The service already provides internet access to 4 million users across 100+ countries.
However, Amazon’s entry introduces serious competition. With its vast resources, established infrastructure, and partnerships (including ULA and Blue Origin), Project Kuiper could accelerate innovation and drive down costs—potentially reshaping the satellite broadband industry.
The Bigger Space Race
While Bezos focuses on Blue Origin’s crewed missions (like its recent all-female flight featuring celebrities such as Katy Perry and Lauren Sánchez), Amazon is quietly making moves that could rival SpaceX’s dominance.
Will Project Kuiper succeed in challenging Starlink? The April 9 launch will be a critical first test.
