Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is venturing into space with a new project called Kuiper.
He plans to launch two test satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, to develop technology for a massive satellite network that will provide internet access worldwide.
Bezos aims to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink, which already offers satellite internet in many countries.
These two test satellites will be sent into a high orbit of 500 kilometers (310 miles) using an Atlas-5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Amazon started working on Project Kuiper in 2018, with a budget of $10 billion.
The goal is to offer high-speed internet connections through satellites instead of traditional fiber connections.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX currently leads this field with over 4,800 satellites in orbit.
Other companies like Eutelsat-OneWeb are also building their satellite networks.
Bezos is in a hurry to get his satellite network up and running because he needs to have at least half of the Kuiper system in orbit by July 2026, as per the terms of the license granted by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
This means a fast-paced launch schedule, with nearly 100 planned rocket flights.
However, there’s a risk of delays if the new rocket systems encounter problems during their early launches.
One concern about these satellite networks is their impact on astronomy.
The increasing number of satellites can interfere with telescopic observations of the Universe, appearing as bright objects in the sky.
For example, an experimental satellite named BlueWalker-3 recently caused glare that made it one of the brightest objects in the sky.
Additionally, there are worries about managing the traffic of numerous satellites in space.
Collisions or debris from these satellites could restrict activities in orbit.
Aside from Project Kuiper, Bezos is involved in other space projects through his company Blue Origin.
Blue Origin has launched “tourists” into space with its New Shepard rocket and capsule system.
They are also developing a larger vehicle called New Glenn, an astronaut landing craft for the Moon, and a commercial space station for Earth orbit.
Bezos is actively expanding his presence in the space industry.
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