From CNET: Amazon launched 27 low-Earth orbit satellites on Monday night as part of Project Kuiper, which will provide satellite broadband services, competing with Elon Musk's Starlink. The launch mission, KA-01 or Kuiper Atlas 1, used a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, and began its journey from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The tech and space giant was forced to abandon its original rocket launch date of April 9 because of poor weather conditions. "Weather is observed and forecast NO GO for liftoff within the remaining launch window at Cape Canaveral," United Launch Alliance said at the time. "The stubborn cumulus clouds and persistent winds make liftoff not possible within the available window."
It's a big step forward for the project, which Amazon announced in 2019 with promises of a $10 billion investment. Now, the company is entering the race to provide satellite internet service, a space dominated by SpaceX's Starlink, which has about 7,000 satellites. Amazon's plans call for 3,200 satellites to be deployed over 80 launches. The company intends to provide internet service with this technology later this year.
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