Amazon launches its first internet satellites to compete against SpaceX’s Starlinks

CAPE CANAVERAL Fla AP Amazon s first batch of internet satellites rocketed into orbit Monday the latest entry in the mega constellation field at the moment dominated by SpaceX s thousands of Starlinks The United Launch Alliance s Atlas V rocket carried up of Amazon s Project Kuiper satellites named after the frigid fringes of our solar system beyond Neptune Once issued in orbit the satellites will eventually reach an altitude of nearly miles kilometers Two test satellites were launched in also by an Atlas V Project authorities disclosed major upgrades were made to the newest version The latest satellites also are coated with a mirror film designed to scatter reflected sunlight in an attempt to accommodate astronomers Stargazers oppose the fast-growing constellations of low-orbiting satellites arguing they spoil observations Others fear more satellite collisions Founded by Jeff Bezos who now runs his own rocket company Blue Origin Amazon aims to put more than of these satellites into orbit to provide fast affordable broadband organization around the globe Elon Musk s SpaceX already has launched more than Starlinks since The company marked its th Starlink launch Sunday night More than Starlinks are still in orbit certain -plus miles kilometers above Earth The European-based OneWeb satellite constellation numbers in the hundreds in an even higher orbit Amazon already has purchased dozens of rocket launches from United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin for Project Kuiper as well as others There are specific things you can only learn in flight despite extensive testing on the ground commented Rajeev Badyal the project s vice president No matter how the mission unfolds this is just the start of our journey he disclosed in a message ahead of the evening liftoff The first liftoff attempt earlier this month was nixed by bad weather It took until now to secure another spot in the launch lineup at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station