Cape Canaveral, Florida (AP) – The first batch of Amazon of Internet satellites Entered orbit on Monday, the last entry of the mega constellation market currently dominated by Thousands of starry links.
The Atlas V rocket of the United Launch Alliance brought 27 satellites of the Amazon Kuiper project, named after the freezing fringes of our solar system Beyond Neptune. Once released in orbit, satellites will eventually reach an altitude of almost 400 miles (630 kilometers).
Two test satellites were launched in 2023, also by an Atlas V., project managers said that major improvements had been made to the latest version. The latest satellites are also covered with a mirror film designed to disperse reflected sunlight in order to welcome astronomers.
Stargazers oppose rapidly growing satellite constellations with low -rebit, arguing that they spoil observations. Others fear more satellite collisions.
Founded by Jeff BezosWho now directs his own rocket business, Blue Origin, Amazon aims to orbit more than 3,200 satellites to provide a quick and affordable wide -band service worldwide.
Elon Musk SpaceX has already launched more than 8,000 Starlinks since 2019. The company has marked its 250th launch of Starlink on Sunday evening. More than 7,000 star links are still in orbit at more than 300 miles (550 kilometers) above the earth.
The Oneweb satellite constellation based on Europe Nombrlle in the hundreds on an even higher orbit.
Amazon has already bought dozens of rocket launches from United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin for Project Kuiper, as well as others.
“There are things you can only learn in flight” despite in-depth tests on the ground, said Rajeev Baaly, the project vice-president.
“No matter how the mission takes place, this is only the start of our trip,” he said in a statement before the evening takeoff.
The first take-off attempt earlier this month was nixed by bad weather. Until now, it has been necessary to secure another place in the launch range at Space Force Cape Canaveral station.
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