Amazon seeks to challenge Starlink by putting 4,538 satellites into orbit

November 5, 2021 | 2:38 pm

Kuiper Systems Amazon has asked US regulators for permission to launch another 4,538 satellites that will boost its range while competing with Starlink, Amazon’s satellite internet service. SpaceX.

In a statement Thursday with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the company said the authorization will bring the Kuiper constellation to 7,774 satellites.

Both are company Jeff Bezos Like the Elon Musk They have requests before the agency to launch fleets of satellites into low Earth orbit.

Kuiper Systems’ order was issued a day after the US Federal Claims Court ruled Thursday against Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ company, In his lawsuit against NASA regarding a contract for a lunar landing He received a SpaceX award from Elon Musk earlier this year.

Federal Judge Richard Hertling sided with the defense in his ruling, ending a months-long battle between the two companies.

SpaceX has become a space pioneer, launching at least 1,700 of its broadband Starlink satellites with plans for thousands more.

for this part, Amazon It previously won FCC approval for 3,236 satellites, and says it will launch two prototypes by the end of next year.

London-based OneWeb is building a fleet of 648 satellites, while Boeing received permission from the FCC on November 3 for a fleet of 147 communications satellites.