Amazon.com Inc. announced Wednesday it would launch its first satellites into low Earth orbit on April 9, kickstarting the company's project of providing satellite internet connection to users "around the world."
The launching of the first 27 satellites, a part of Amazon's Project Kuiper, will be carried out by the United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket. According to the company's statement, the scheduled launch will be the first of its planned 80 launches with the ultimate aim of putting an initial constellation of more than 3,200 advanced satellites into low Earth orbit. Amazon expects to begin delivering high-speed internet access to customers worldwide via these satellites later this year.
Amazon's foray into space marks an important milestone for the company as it seeks to establish itself as the main rival of Elon Musk's Starlink.
