A major advance for Amazon Project Kuiper occurred on Monday when the company launched its first 27 satellites of a constellation totaling 3,236 satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The $10 billion investment to provide global broadband internet, positions the company as a competitor to both SpaceX’s Starlink and traditional telecom providers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Amazon initiated its delayed high-speed internet service delivery with the deployment of 27 satellites aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket which launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during an EDT 7 p.m. flight.

Project Kuiper encountered its first setback after bad weather forced its launch to be canceled on April 9 during its announcement in 2019. Project Kuiper started its development later than expected after its initial goal of deploying early batches during 2024. Amazon must gain an extension according to U.S. Federal Communications Commission rules for deploying 1,618 satellites in its constellation by mid-2026 because its launch program began slower than expected. 

Despite the challenges, Amazon remains optimistic, stating it expects to “begin delivering service to customers later this year” following successful contact with the satellites from its mission operations center in Redmond, Washington, expected within hours or days of the launch.

Amazon develops space technology through their consumer product knowledge and cloud computing expertise for market distinction compared to Starlink. Two test satellites built by Amazon underwent successful operations in 2023 and were subsequently de-orbiting positively in 2024.

 In 2023 Amazon released its Kuiper consumer terminals through two products consisting of an LP vinyl record-sized antenna combined with a smaller Kindle-sized device which is designed to connect with satellites while costing less than $400 each and seeking to create tens of millions of products. According to a 2020 FCC filing, Amazon could start service in select northern and southern regions with just 578 satellites, expanding coverage as more are launched.

The joint Boeing and Lockheed Martin venture ULA indicated, it might make five more Kuiper launchings possible during this year according to Tory Bruno. The company’s Project Kuiper remains one of its largest ventures intended to both close digital gaps worldwide and take on SpaceX’s leadership in satellite internet.