WASHINGTON, D.C.: Amazon.com has announced that it will launch the first 27 satellites for its Project Kuiper internet network this week. This marks the beginning of its plan to develop an extensive satellite system, competing with Elon Musk's Starlink.

The launch, called "Kuiper Atlas 1," is scheduled for April 9 at noon EDT (1600 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida. An Atlas 5 rocket, built by a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, will carry the satellites into space. This is part of a significant launch deal Amazon signed in 2022.

Amazon plans to launch over 3,000 satellites into low-Earth orbit to create a global high-speed internet network. This mission will be the first time Amazon tests its final satellite design and launches multiple satellites simultaneously. Rajeev Badyal, the vice president of Kuiper, said they have tested everything on the ground but will learn more from this launch. He added that this is just the beginning, and Amazon is poised to improve and continue launching additional satellites in the years to come.

Amazon launched Project Kuiper in 2019, investing US$10 billion in its development. Some of its engineers previously worked on Starlink before leaving in 2018. Since then, SpaceX has launched around 8,000 Starlink satellites and gained over five million users in 125 countries. Starlink has also attracted the attention of military and intelligence agencies for secure communications.

Although Amazon is starting later, it believes its experience in cloud services and consumer products will help attract customers. It also plans to mass-produce user terminals—small antennas that connect to Kuiper satellites.

In 2022, Amazon booked 83 rocket launches from different providers, including ULA, Arianespace, and Blue Origin. This was the most significant launch deal in the industry. The company launched two test satellites in 2023, which it considered successful.