CNN —Amazon just inked a deal with chief competitor and Elon Musk-helmed SpaceX to launch internet-beaming satellites — a move that comes even as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pursues his own space dreams with his own rocket company, Blue Origin, and as SpaceX builds its own internet constellation.
Some Amazon satellites will still ride on a large rocket made by Blue Origin, dubbed the New Glenn.
Amazon is working to build a constellation of thousands of internet satellites, called Project Kuiper, that is planned to beam connectivity across the planet.
The Jeff Bezos-founded company made headlines in April 2022 when it signed a contract worth billions of dollars to launch Kuiper satellites on 77 rockets built by Blue Origin — another Bezos-founded venture — as well as ULA and European launch provider Arianespace.
In an interview last month, Rajeev Badyal, vice president of technology for Project Kuiper, told CNN the prototypes were wholly successful.
Persons:
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Musk, Glenn, it’s, SpaceX’s, Lockheed Martin, “, ”, Amazon, Rajeev Badyal, Kuiper, ” Badyal, Badyal
Organizations:
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Locations:
ULA, European