Amazon has announced plans to invest $120 million in a satellite processing facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This move is part of Amazon’s ambitious Kuiper project, which aims to launch 3,200 low-Earth-orbiting satellites to provide global broadband internet coverage.
The company’s investment in the satellite factory is seen as a direct challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink, led by Elon Musk. The Kuiper internet network is expected to not only compete with Starlink but also enhance Amazon’s dominant web services platform.
The Florida facility, which began construction in January, is set to be completed by late 2024. It will play a crucial role in the satellite deployment process, allowing for seamless integration of the satellites into the rocket payload fairings. These fairings protect the satellites atop the rocket during launch.
Steve Metayer, Amazon’s vice president of Kuiper Production Operations, expressed confidence in the company’s ability to launch their first mass-produced satellites as early as 2024. Following this, the first batch of satellites is expected to arrive at the facility for processing in the first half of 2025.
In line with US regulatory requirements, Amazon aims to deploy half of the satellite network into orbit by 2026. To achieve this, the company has secured an impressive 77 heavy-lift rocket launch contracts, potentially valued at billions of dollars. The majority of these contracts have been granted by United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed, along with Jeff Bezos’s space company, Blue Origin.
The Florida facility will serve as the last destination for Amazon’s Kuiper satellites after their production at the main plant in Redmond, Washington before they journey into space. To support this operation, the facility will hire a workforce of 50 highly skilled individuals.
With its substantial investment and strategic approach, Amazon is positioning itself as a significant contender in the space-based internet industry. The company plans to begin testing the service with corporate and government customers in the following year after the first mass-produced satellites are launched.
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