Amazon is taking a crack at satellite internet. 

On Wednesday, the Seattle based tech company plans to launch the first 27 satellites of Project Kuiper. The company bills this as the start of a “constellation” of satellites providing internet all over the world. 

In all, it plans to launch more than 3,000 satellites by 2029. 

Amazon is trying to take market share from Elon Musk’s Starlink, which has dominated the satellite internet industry since it came online in 2019.

Guest:

Jonathan O’Callaghan - Science journalist who covers space for Scientific American, NYT, the BBC, and Nature.

Relevant Links:

MIT Technology Review: Amazon is about to go head to head with SpaceX in a battle for satellite internet dominance 

GeekWire: Amazon and ULA get set to launch batches of satellites for Project Kuiper network

SciAm: The Risky Rush for Mega Constellations

SciAm: The FCC’s Approval of SpaceX’s Starlink Mega Constellation May Have Been Unlawful

 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Amazon is taking a crack at satellite internet.&nbsp;
On Wednesday, the Seattle based tech company plans to launch the first 27 satellites of Project Kuiper. The company bills this as the start of a &ldquo;constellation&rdquo; of satellites providing internet all over the world.&nbsp;
In all, it plans to launch more than 3,000 satellites by 2029.&nbsp;
Amazon is trying to take market share from Elon Musk&rsquo;s Starlink, which has dominated the satellite internet industry since it came online in 2019.
Guest:
<a href="https://www.jonathanocallaghan.com/">Jonathan O&rsquo;Callaghan </a>- Science journalist who covers space for Scientific American, NYT, the BBC, and Nature.
Relevant Links:
MIT Technology Review: <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/03/23/1070187/amazon-project-kuiper-launch/">Amazon is about to go head to head with SpaceX in a battle for satellite internet dominance </a>
GeekWire: <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2025/amazon-ula-satellites-project-kuiper/">Amazon and ULA get set to launch batches of satellites for Project Kuiper network</a>
SciAm: <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-risky-rush-for-mega-constellations/">The Risky Rush for Mega Constellations</a>
SciAm: <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-fccs-approval-of-spacexs-starlink-mega-constellation-may-have-been-unlawful/">The FCC&rsquo;s Approval of SpaceX&rsquo;s Starlink Mega Constellation May Have Been Unlawful</a>
&nbsp;
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Soundside

On Wednesday, Amazon plans to launch the first 27 satellites of Project Kuiper, a satellite internet service the company hopes will rival SpaceX's Starlink.

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