Joe Skipper/Reuters
The Axiom-2 mission launches aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule, carrying 4 crew members to the International Space Station from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on May 21, 2023.
Amazon has teamed up with SpaceX for a groundbreaking partnership, enlisting SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets to propel Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellites into space writes Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert for Business Insider.
The collaboration, announced in a statement, outlines plans for three launches scheduled for early to mid-2025 in support of Amazon’s Project Kuiper. Despite undisclosed financial terms, the deal is a strategic move in Amazon’s $10 billion plan to establish a satellite constellation challenging SpaceX’s Starlink.
Amazon’s statement emphasizes the increased capacity these launches will provide, essential for the extensive deployment of its satellites starting in the first half of 2024. In addition to SpaceX, Amazon has secured partnerships with Arianespace, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin for up to 83 launches, underscoring its commitment to rivaling Starlink.
Elon Musk, SpaceX’s CEO, responded to the news by asserting SpaceX’s impartiality, stating, “SpaceX launches competitor satellite systems without favor to its own satellites. Fair and square.” Meanwhile, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink, faced delays in October due to modifications in the rocket-delivery system.
These developments mark Amazon’s proactive strategy in the satellite internet arena, with over 3,200 satellites slated for launch over the next six years, positioning the company to offer orbital broadband internet to a global audience.