Washington, United States:
Weather stopped a rocket, which was taken to the first batch of the Amazon satellites, which was barred from lifting with Elon Musk’s Starlink on Wednesday, in a jolt for the planned project Kuper network.
A joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, read a Leeblog update from Operator United Launch Alliance (Ula), “Stuborn Cummilus clouds and frequent winds do not make available.”
Ula said cumulus clouds are a special threat to rockets as they can trigger electrical attacks at a nearby launch.
The Livestream footage showed venting from the white atlas V rocket laden with 27 project Kuper satellites as it stood on the launchpad through a gradual delay.
Liftoff from Cape Canverals in the US state of Florida was originally slate for 7:00 pm (2300 GMT).
Like Starlink, Kuper service is also designed to provide internet access in the most remote and underscreed areas around the world, including the war zone or disaster-breeding areas.
Once in class, satellites will be stationed hundreds of miles above Earth, where they will form the foundation of Project Kuper – a constellation that Amazon says that it will include more than 3,200 satellites.
Amazon, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has said that internet service will be live this year.
The pricing of the project has not yet been revealed, but Amazon has promised that it will suit its current reputation as a low -cost retailer.
Earlier, the launch put Amazon in a direct competition with SpaceX Starlink and other satellite internet providers.
Musk -owned Spacex launched the first batch of more than 6,750 operating Starlink satellites in 2019 and is the largest player in the region so far, claiming over five million customers worldwide.
Starlink has used the Internet in many disaster and war areas, including Morocco after 2023 earthquakes, as well as on the frontline in Ukraine in its war with Russia.
High competition
Unlike traditional internet services, which rely on low satellites located more than 35,000 kilometers (22,000 mi) from Earth, which are introduced by Kasturi and soon by Bezos, they use low Earth orbit between 550 and 1,300 kilometers (350–810 mi).
This allows them to relay the data more rapidly on Earth, allowing them to use the Internet in areas without a landline connection by copper or fiber optic cable.
“Cost, complexity and geography can make it difficult to install traditional, ground-based fiber and wireless connectivity solutions in these areas,” Amazon says.
However, a lower orbit means that the so -called Leo satellites are available only from a small area, which means that more are more essential for complete global coverage and the launch is more regular.
Nevertheless, it offers a large potential market for Amazon – a one in which it is hoping to catch with its main contestant and become a prominent player.
Amazon is planning to promote satellite launch over the coming months and years, which has more than 80 flights ordered by firms, including ULA, Bezos’ space company Blue Origin and even Musk’s SpaceX.
These satellites will gradually be sent to the orbit of low earth, which is rapidly inhabited by other emerging actors including Starlinks as well as the onewab of Europe and Guovang of China.
Some people have feared that there may be a rising number of satellites and possible conflicts, as well as disturbances for astronomical comments.
The role of private hands in space has also raised political questions, especially looking at Musk’s role as the lead advisor to US President Donald Trump.
Musk has expressed doubts over the future of Starlink in Ukraine, where it is necessary for military operations in Kiev’s war with Russia that Trump wants to see finish.
He said in March, however, “No matter how much I disagree with Ukraine policy, Starlink will never shut down its terminals.”
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)