Locator: 48789SGPS.
Updates
September 15, 2025: Amazon Kuiper update. Link here.
Original Post
From an earlier post, July 16, 2025, link here:
Satellites, Amazon:
- Amazon's Kuiper internet satellites
- Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon 9 can launch upwards of 36 of these satellites at a time
- 24 were launched today, Wednesday, July 16, 2025
- SpaceX's Starlink has 8,000 satellites in order
- Amazon is trying to catch up
- the article says Amazon has 83 launches scheduled including three "rides" with SpaceX
Amazon launched Project Kuiper in 2019 with a goal of providing broadband internet from a constellation of more than 3,000 satellites. The company is working under a tight deadline imposed by the Federal Communications Commission that requires it to have about 1,600 satellites in orbit by the end of July 2026.
- Back of the envelope:
- 1,600 - 78 = 1,522
- 1,522 / 36 = 42 launches
- 1,522 / 24 = 63 launches
- 533 days until December 31, 2026
- 533 days / 53 launches = ten days between each launch
- that seems like a lot of launches
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Satellite Constellations: Starlink vs Kuiper
Why so many satellites? Think of each satellite as a single transmitter tower on earth. Same concept.
Both Amazon’s Kuiper and SpaceX’s Starlink constellations operate in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Here’s a quick breakdown:
SpaceX Starlink
- Orbit altitude: ~340 to 550 km (210–340 miles)
- Total satellites planned: ~12,000 (with FCC approval for up to 30,000+)
- Purpose: Global broadband internet with low latency
- Current status: Over 6,000 satellites launched and operational as of 2025
Amazon Kuiper
- Orbit altitude: three shells planned -- 590 km - 610 km - 630 km
- Total satellites planned: 3,236 (FCC-approved)
- Purpose: Similar to Starlink — high-speed, low-latency internet access globally, especially for underserved areas
- Current status: First two prototype satellites launched in late 2023; commercial deployment expected in 2025–2026
Why LEO for Both?
- Lower latency: Ideal for real-time apps (Zoom, gaming, etc.)
- Smaller ground terminals: Easier for consumers
- More satellites needed: To provide seamless global coverage (since each LEO satellite covers less area than a GEO satellite) So yes, both are LEO networks — part of a new generation of satellite internet focused on speed, accessibility, and global reach.
What does ChatGPT mean when it says "smaller ground terminals" make it easier for consumers?
ChatGPT's answer:
Because LEO satellites orbit closer to Earth (~300–600 km), the signal doesn’t have to travel as far as it does from higher-altitude satellites (like geostationary satellites at 35,786 km).
This has several effects:
1. Less Power Required A stronger signal means the user’s terminal (dish/antenna) doesn’t need a high-powered transmitter or giant dish to connect. Smaller devices can do the job.
2. Smaller, Cheaper Hardware Consumers get compact, plug-and-play ground terminals — like SpaceX’s “Dishy,” which is about the size of a pizza box. That’s easier to:
- ship
- install
- maintain
3. No Special Technician Required: Traditional satellite internet (GEO-based) often required professional installation, dish alignment, and expensive equipment. With LEO systems, many users can self-install in minutes.
In Summary: Because LEO satellites are closer and provide a stronger signal with less latency, they allow for smaller, more affordable, and more user-friendly ground terminals — a huge advantage for consumer adoption, especially in rural or underserved areas.
With this prompt, one can learn why SpaceX Starlink will have significantly more satellites (8,000) that Amazon:
The fact that SpaceX Starlink will have 8,000 satellites and Amazon will have 3,000 satellites, does this mean the Kuiper satellites are "stronger," more capable, or does have SpaceX Starlink have one mission and Amazon has something different, requiring fewer satellites?
In other words, we're going to be launching more and more satellites well into the future.
