Amazon's Project Kuiper will finally launch its internet satellites in 2022

(Pocket-lint) - Amazon is astir to motorboat its archetypal 2 prototype satellites for Project Kuiper.

The institution - overmuch similar SpaceX's Starlink and different ambitious tech firms - has been moving connected a satellite-internet project. Its version, Project Kuiper, volition yet dwell of implicit 3,000 satellites - each assembled successful a low-Earth orbit constellation and beaming low-latency broadband net coverage.

Project Kuiper aims to motorboat its archetypal 2 prototype satellites by the extremity of 2022 - oregon by the 4th quarter, specifically. Amazon has adjacent filed a "Request for Experimental Authorization" motorboat licence with the US Federal Communications Commission for 2 prototypes: The KuiperSat-1 and the  KuiperSat-2. 

Currently, Project Kuiper's 2 prototype satellites are acceptable to motorboat via a caller rocket, called the RS1, that's made by California startup ABL Space Systems.

The extremity is to supply agrarian communities and different areas with net services. Starlink, SpaceX’s broadband net outer constellation, has the aforesaid purpose; it's sending astir 12,000 into debased orbit astir Earth and has really launched much than 1,700. It adjacent has a beta programme for users.

Amazon, therefore, has a batch of catching up to do. Its archetypal 2 prototypes volition run astatine 366 miles supra Earth. They diagnostic antennas, modems, power, and propulsion. In space, they volition effort to link with 4 of Kuiper’s idiosyncratic terminals and a crushed presumption successful Texas that tin nonstop and person broadband signals. Kuiper has already completed immoderate investigating connected the crushed with its terminals, claiming to deed maximum throughput speeds of up to 400Mbps.

For reference, Starlink’s beta programme claims download speeds up to 100Mbps and 200Mbps.

It's worthy noting immoderate astronomers person been complaining precocious that these types of outer constellations could disrupt observations of the nighttime sky. So, to assistance offset that, Amazon said it’s been "working with astronomers and others successful the manufacture to trim the visibility of Kuiper System satellites".

It's adjacent including a sunshade connected 1 of the prototype satellites to dampen its quality to bespeak airy from the Sun.

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Originally published connected 2 November 2021.