In the space war between billionaires, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos took a hit when weather forced the scrub of Amazon’s first major internet satellite launch. On Wednesday, a rocket at Cape Canaveral was ready to blast 27 Project Kuiper satellites into orbit. However, Mother Nature had other plans—heavy clouds and rain near the launch site forced a mission call-off. Amazon’s satellite internet system has taken a setback at the starting block.
Amazon’s satellite internet to rival Starlink
As we reported last week, billionaire Amazon chief, Jeff Bezos, has plans to take on his corporate rival, Elon Musk and his successful Starlink internet satellite service. We wrote, “Project Kuiper is launching its first batch of low-earth-orbiting satellites on April 9—weather permitting.”
Without the weather’s “permission,” Amazon’s launch has been delayed. “It is confirmed that we will not continue with the Amazon Project Kuiper 1 launch activities today,” United Launch Alliance launch commentator Caleb Weiss said during a livestream of the launch event. Officials have not yet announced a date for the next try.
But Amazon’s worker bees will need to be quick about it. The Federal Communications Commission has given Amazon until July 2026 to have half of its total number of satellites—1,618—up and flying. Amazon says it already has 80 launches “secured” to take up the entire constellation of more than 3,200 birds.
We’ll keep you posted as to developments.
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##RVT1204b
Anything but musk.
Why JB?
Is it because his rockets are mostly reusable adding to sustainability?
Is it because he employs tens of thousands of Americans with good paying jobs instead of relying on offshore talent.
Is it because he’s an equal opportunity employer who hires and promotes on merit instead of who has the best “oppression” story?
Is it because he supports zero emission vehicles and funds their manufacturer?
Is it because he created the means for even the most remote to have connectivity via StarLink?
Is it because he’s became a citizen legally or is it because he’s trying to cull thirty-seven billion in government debt?
Seriously, what’s your axe with him?
Envy !!!
Let me guess. It’s because he works for Trump!
He pushed the worst president ever over the finish line, and is now actively destroying our government.
No dear. He did not single handily use mind control to influence the entirety of voters to elect “the worst president ever” and being tasked to seek out wasteful spending will not “destroy our government”….
Maybe Bezos can borrow a Musk rocket, or buy one, and get his satelites into space sooner. Hahaha. NASA uses them all the time, even to rescue STRANDED astronauts, they work. He even has some previously used ones for a discount. One owner models on the SpaceEx lot for low low prices.
Thank you for the news, Russ and Tina! Being completely uncontaminated by any knowledge whatsoever of physics or engineering, I am surprised that it took so little adverse (?) weather to preclude the scheduled launch. Hopefully, the weather improves greatly and they can send scads of satellites into orbit soon. Meanwhile, have a great day and safe travels!