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Amazon teams up with Elon Musk's SpaceX in rare satellite launch deal
Amazon teams up with Elon Musk's SpaceX in rare satellite launch deal

Qatar Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • Qatar Tribune

Amazon teams up with Elon Musk's SpaceX in rare satellite launch deal

Agencies In a surprising move, Amazon is teaming up with Elon Musk's SpaceX to send its next group of internet satellites into space. The rare partnership comes as part of Amazon's effort to build Project Kuiper—its satellite-based internet system meant to compete with SpaceX's Starlink. On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, weather permitting, 24 new Kuiper satellites will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. According to CNBC, the mission, named KF-01, will be Amazon's first time using a SpaceX rocket. The launch is scheduled for 2:18 am ET, with a backup window the next morning. Even though SpaceX and Amazon are fierce competitors in the race to deliver internet from space, the collaboration is simple business. Amazon is paying SpaceX for the launch, just as it has with other companies like United Launch Alliance (ULA), which carried the first 54 Kuiper satellites earlier this year. Amazon needs to move fast. The company must have at least 1,600 satellites in orbit by July 2026 to meet a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deadline. So far, Amazon has 54 satellites in space, and this launch will bring the total to 78, Yahoo said. The Kuiper project could eventually include more than 3,200 satellites. Project Kuiper is one of Amazon's biggest bets. The company has already invested more than $10 billion and may spend over $20 billion more to complete the network. Analysts at Bank of America estimate Amazon could generate over $7 billion a year in revenue from the service by 2032 if it grabs a big share of the market. 'Amazon is working hard to meet its goals and bring internet access to people who need it,' said the company, pointing to plans to serve rural and underserved communities. Elon Musk's SpaceX, on the other hand, has a head start. Starlink already has about 8,000 satellites in orbit and nearly 5 million users worldwide. But that hasn't stopped Amazon from pushing forward. While Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos also owns the rocket company Blue Origin, it's not yet ready to handle most Kuiper launches.

SpaceX launch adds dozens of satellites to Amazon's broadband network
SpaceX launch adds dozens of satellites to Amazon's broadband network

UPI

time6 days ago

  • Science
  • UPI

SpaceX launch adds dozens of satellites to Amazon's broadband network

July 16 (UPI) -- Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband network got a literal boost from SpaceX Wednesday as a Falcon 9 rocket put several Kuiper satellites into orbit. The mission, titled KF-01, involved a Falcon 9 that launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday at 2:30 a.m. EDT, and carried 24 Kuiper craft into low Earth orbit at an altitude of 289 miles. "Congrats to the amazing [Project Kuiper] team on another successful launch and thank you to [SpaceX] for the ride to space," posted Amazon's devices chief Panos Panay to X Wednesday. "Pumped to have another batch of Kuiper satellites heading into orbit!" The Falcon 9's first stage then returned to Earth about nine minutes later, landing on SpaceX's "A Shortfall of Gravitas" droneship located in the Atlantic Ocean. Marking the third launch of Kuiper satellites, this mission expanded Amazon's broadband network to a current count of 78 but is slated to eventually be comprised of over 3,200 satellites, which will require more than 80 launches before reaching that goal.

Amazon Teams Up with Elon Musk's SpaceX in Rare Satellite Launch Deal
Amazon Teams Up with Elon Musk's SpaceX in Rare Satellite Launch Deal

Int'l Business Times

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • Int'l Business Times

Amazon Teams Up with Elon Musk's SpaceX in Rare Satellite Launch Deal

In a surprising move, Amazon is teaming up with Elon Musk's SpaceX to send its next group of internet satellites into space. The rare partnership comes as part of Amazon's effort to build Project Kuiper—its satellite-based internet system meant to compete with SpaceX's Starlink. On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, weather permitting, 24 new Kuiper satellites will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. According to CNBC , the mission, named KF-01, will be Amazon's first time using a SpaceX rocket. The launch is scheduled for 2:18 am ET, with a backup window the next morning. Even though SpaceX and Amazon are fierce competitors in the race to deliver internet from space, the collaboration is simple business. Amazon is paying SpaceX for the launch, just as it has with other companies like United Launch Alliance (ULA), which carried the first 54 Kuiper satellites earlier this year. Kuiper Satellite Count Rises to 78 as Amazon Pushes Forward Amazon needs to move fast. The company must have at least 1,600 satellites in orbit by July 2026 to meet a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deadline. So far, Amazon has 54 satellites in space, and this launch will bring the total to 78, Yahoo said. The Kuiper project could eventually include more than 3,200 satellites. Project Kuiper is one of Amazon's biggest bets. The company has already invested more than $10 billion and may spend over $20 billion more to complete the network. Analysts at Bank of America estimate Amazon could generate over $7 billion a year in revenue from the service by 2032 if it grabs a big share of the market. "Amazon is working hard to meet its goals and bring internet access to people who need it," said the company, pointing to plans to serve rural and underserved communities. Elon Musk's SpaceX, on the other hand, has a head start. Starlink already has about 8,000 satellites in orbit and nearly 5 million users worldwide. But that hasn't stopped Amazon from pushing forward. While Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos also owns the rocket company Blue Origin, it's not yet ready to handle most Kuiper launches. Originally published on

In rare team-up, Elon Musk's SpaceX launches batch of 24 Amazon Kuiper satellites
In rare team-up, Elon Musk's SpaceX launches batch of 24 Amazon Kuiper satellites

Indian Express

time6 days ago

  • Science
  • Indian Express

In rare team-up, Elon Musk's SpaceX launches batch of 24 Amazon Kuiper satellites

The SpaceX collaboration signals Amazon's rush to deploy half of its initial constellation before the July 2026 deadline imposed by US regulators. Elon Musk-owned SpaceX has aided rival Amazon in the fierce satcom race by successfully launching the next batch of Kuiper internet satellites into orbit on Wednesday, July 16. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, United States, at approximately 2:18 am ET (11:48 am India time) with 24 of Amazon's Kuiper satellites on-board the SpaceX rocket. The launch was part of the mission dubbed KF-01.

In rare team-up, Elon Musk's SpaceX launches batch of 24 Amazon's Kuiper satellites
In rare team-up, Elon Musk's SpaceX launches batch of 24 Amazon's Kuiper satellites

Indian Express

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • Indian Express

In rare team-up, Elon Musk's SpaceX launches batch of 24 Amazon's Kuiper satellites

Elon Musk-owned SpaceX has aided rival Amazon in the fierce satcom race by successfully launching the next batch of Kuiper internet satellites into orbit on Wednesday, July 16. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, US, at approximately 2:18 am ET (11:48 am India time) with 24 of Amazon's Kuiper satellites on-board the SpaceX rocket. The launch was part of the mission dubbed KF-01. 'Successful deployment of all KF-01 satellites confirmed,' wrote SpaceX in a post on X. With the recent launch, Amazon Kuiper now has a total of 78 low Earth constellation (LEO) satellites in-orbit. Its plans involve placing more than 3,200 internet satellites in low Earth orbit to form a first-generation constellation network and provide satellite-based internet. Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, has a network comprising around 8,000 satellites. Though the two firms are primary competitors in the satellite internet market, the rare collaboration with SpaceX signals Kuiper's rush to deploy half of its initial constellation because the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has required the company to have at least 1,600 satellites in orbit by the end of July 2026. Liftoff! — SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 16, 2025 In 2023, Amazon faced a lawsuit from shareholders for not considering SpaceX as a potential contractor to help dole out its first batch of internet satellites using Falcon 9, which is said to be its most reliable rocket. Two months later, the Jeff Bezos-founded company inked a three-year deal with SpaceX for satellite launches. Kuiper also has similar arrangements with other launch providers such as United Launch Alliance (ULA), Arianespace, and Blue Origin (Bezos' other company). While Blue Origin has built a booster rocket called Glenn, it has only flown once so far and the company reportedly failed to recover the booster. The second launch of Blue Origin's rocket is scheduled to take place on August 15. Deployment of 26 @Starlink satellites confirmed — SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 16, 2025 Meanwhile, Space on Tuesday, July 14, launched 26 of its own Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. The lift off was at its base in southern California, US. With around 8,000 active Starlink satellites in orbit already, SpaceX has a megaconstellation for offering satellite-based internet. The company plans to deploy an additional 30,000 spacecraft, but it has received regulatory approval to launch only 12,000 units at present.

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