Amazon is gearing up for another exciting launch! The company plans to send a fresh batch of satellites into orbit early Monday morning. The ULA Atlas V rocket will lift off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying 27 of Amazon’s internet satellites, currently called Project Leo.
This launch is part of Amazon’s vision for a global satellite internet network. Once fully operational, Project Leo will include around 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit. So far, six missions have successfully delivered 153 satellites into space, with more planned in the future. In fact, the rocket for this upcoming launch has successfully completed similar missions before.
In comparison, SpaceX’s Starlink, which has over 9,000 satellites, is already up and running. The competition is growing fierce as both companies aim to provide internet access to remote areas worldwide. According to recent estimates, more than 2.9 billion people still lack internet access. Both Project Leo and Starlink hope to bridge this gap.
Interestingly, SpaceX is contributing to Project Leo by providing their Falcon 9 rocket for some launches, alongside other rockets like Arianespace’s Ariane 6 and ULA’s upcoming Vulcan Centaur.
As excitement builds for the Monday launch, keep an eye on what could be a pivotal moment not just for Amazon but for global internet accessibility. The stakes are high, and the technology involved is evolving rapidly.
For anyone interested in watching, the launch is scheduled for 3:49 a.m. EST, and you can tune in via ULA’s official stream or their YouTube channel.
