On Monday night, Amazon successfully launched 27 Project Kuiper satellites, the first significant deployment in its multibillion-dollar attempt to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink network, thereby entering the satellite internet competition.
The payload entered Low Earth Orbit after a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket took out from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:01 p.m. ET. Amazon said on Tuesday morning that it had established communication with all 27 satellites and that early activation was moving forward “nominally.”
The project marks Amazon’s first full-scale deployment after two test satellites were launched in 2023. The corporation intends to launch more than 3,200 satellites into orbit using a combination of Blue Origin and ULA’s Atlas V and Vulcan rockets. According to Amazon, in order to start providing internet service, it will require a minimum of 580 operating satellites.
“This is only the beginning of our journey,” stated Rajeev Badyal, Project Kuiper’s vice president of technology. “You can only learn certain things while in flight.”
The mirrored coatings of the newest satellites are designed to lessen their influence on astronomical observations, a worry that scientists and stargazers are becoming more and more aware of as satellite constellations continue to expand.
Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has deployed more than 8,000 satellites since 2019, already dominates the market in which Amazon now operates. Serving an estimated 5 million customers in 130 countries, more than 7,000 are still in orbit. After completing two more Falcon 9 launches on Monday, SpaceX reached 50 missions in 2025, including its 250th Starlink mission on Sunday.
According to Amazon, the company has committed to 46 launches for Kuiper, eight of which will be on Atlas V rockets.
Earlier this month, the weather caused a delay in Monday’s trip.