On October 6, at exactly 2:06 PM EST, Amazon launched its Protoflight aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The primary goal of this mission is the deliver two demo satellites, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 at about a height of 311 miles (500 kilometers). The mission is also launched as part of the first payload of Project Kuiper.
What Amazon Intends to Achieve from Project Kuiper
The quest to make the Internet more accessible to everyone inspired Amazon to commence with its Project Kuiper. The company is hoping to provide affordable internet connectivity to people globally. This implies that people living in remote and isolated regions without having access to conventional internet will enjoy a great internet service from Amazon.
But, Amazon is not the only company offering this unique service. SpaceX’s Starlink and OneWebb are already offering such services. Hence, the three companies will compete with each other to win the hearts of consumers across the world. These trio are launching massive satellite constellations in space to provide internet services for everyone across the globe.
Aside from making the Internet accessible to people, Amazon intends to use Project Kuiper for other purposes including providing faster and more dependable communication for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and autonomous vehicles. The Kuiper Project will also support Amazon’s cloud services.
However, Amazon will be required to overcome challenges to achieve its futuristic goals for the Kuiper Project. Scientists have proven that the deployment of massive satellite constellations in space creates environmental issues such as challenges related to space debris and potential collision and interference with other satellites. Hence, Amazon is mandated to work with regulatory bodies to guarantee safe and responsible satellite deployment in space.
How Amazon is Thinking Safety and Sustainability For The Deployment Of Its Kuiper’s Satellites
Amazon revealed on its website its plans to make Project Kuiper safe and sustainable in space. The company also stated how its orbital debris mitigation plan had been approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Hence, Amazon is exploring every safety option to ensure that its Project Kuiper does not cause disaster in space.
“We need to help protect the different environments in which we’re operating—on Earth and in space. The Project Kuiper team has prioritized space safety and sustainability from day one, and these principles have influenced every aspect of our satellite network, from satellite design and operational plans to the architecture of the constellation itself,” read the post.
Amazon’s safety and sustainability plans for Project Kuiper include equipping each satellite in the constellation with active propulsion systems to enable the firm’s team to control every stage of a satellite’s mission. The team’s control will help to actively maneuver the spacecraft to maintain distance from other spacecraft and also space debris in low Earth orbit.
Amazon is hoping to operate every satellite in the Kuiper System within 5 miles (9 kilometers) of its assigned altitude. This will help to lower the possibility of satellite overlap. The Kuiper System will be made to operate at low altitudes of about miles (590 and 630 kilometers) above Earth. This will enable fast and reliable deorbiting operations of satellites at the end of their missions.
Amazon is targeting low-altitude operations to guarantee that non-operational spacecraft will decay even if it experiences a propulsion system failure. In addition, Amazon built all Project Kuiper satellites with propulsion systems designed to actively deorbit the spacecraft within a year of their mission conclusion. Hence, these satellites are sustainable enough not to cause hazards in space.
Conclusion
Amazon just launched its Project Kuiper satellites to provide high internet service to everyone across the globe. However, Amazon will compete with SpaceX Starlink and OneWeb to offer such services to people globally. But competition is good as it makes the companies try their best to offer great services to people and each of them will attempt to dominate the market. What do you think about Project Kuiper?
