The Motley Fool by Rich Smith 1/16/2022
Two internet satellites versus 1,800: This isn't even a contest.Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) announced in November that -- at long last -- it's getting ready to roll out its Project Kuiper initiative to provide broadband internet service via satellite.
And yes, I said Amazon -- not SpaceX.
We're No. 2! We're No. 2!Thanks to the popularity of Starlink, satellite-provided broadband internet has become an idea most closely associated with SpaceX, not Amazon. In the six years since SpaceX announced plans to put a constellation of 12,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, and in the year and a half since it began opening up Starlink for beta service, Starlink has put about 1,800 operational satellites in orbit and expanded its footprint to 25 countries -- and 145,000 customers -- receiving satellite internet service. Starlink has progressed toward its goals so far that SpaceX has already begun talking about IPOing its subsidiary.
In contrast, Amazon currently has zero satellites in orbit and plans to launch just two this year. But just because it's far behind SpaceX in this race doesn't mean Amazon has abandoned its intention to compete.
In its most recent announcement, Amazon says it plans to deploy its first two internet satellites -- KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 -- in Q4 2022. Although equipped with "parabolic antennas, power and propulsion systems, and custom-designed modems," these first two satellites will not offer any internet service. Rather, Amazon says it will use them just to "test the communications and networking technology that will be used in our final satellite design, and help us validate launch operations and mission management procedures."
That accomplished, both satellites will be deorbited and allowed to burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
More:
https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/01/16/amazoncom-challenges-spacex-in-space/
