Amazon.com has requested permission from the US Federal Communications Commission to launch and maintain two prototype internet satellites by the end of 2022 as part of its plan to build a space-based satellite network.
The testing and protest launch is “an important step toward Amazon’s goal of delivering high-capacity, low latency broadband communications services to tens of millions of unserved and underserved consumers and businesses,” according to Amazon, which has pledged to spend at least US$10 billion to build 3236 such satellites through its Project Kuiper program.
Amazon stated that it “persists to invest in Project Kuiper as we near full production launches and ready to serve tens of millions of customers worldwide.” In 2020, the FCC authorized the Project Kuiper plan for a network of earth orbit satellites to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Starlink network.
Amazon has feuded with Musk, lately accusing the billionaire of disregarding several government-imposed laws, including many FAA mandates. “The behaviour of SpaceX and other Musk-led enterprises makes their point clear, rules are for other people, and those who insist on, or even just request, compliance are deserving of scorn and ad hominem assaults,” Amazon stated.
In the private space launch sector, Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos and Musk compete. Blue Origin, Bezos’ company, has contested the National Aeronautics Administration’s decision to award SpaceX a $2.9 billion contract for a lunar landing.
In its filing with the FCC, SpaceX accused Amazon of attempting to derail the company’s plans: “While SpaceX has proceeded to deploy more than 1700 satellites, Amazon has yet to even attempt to address the radiofrequency interference and space junk issues that must be resolved before Amazon can deploy its constellation.”
