Rockets remain on the ground if the sky is not cooperative. That is what happened in Florida on Wednesday when bad weather delayed the first flight of Amazon's satellite internet test, experiment Kuiper.
Wind and clouds lead to delays
On Wednesday evening, the launch of the Atlas V rocket was set. To enable Amazon's upcoming internet service, it had 27 satellites onboard. But the launch was hindered by persistent winds and stubborn cumulus clouds.
"Liftoff is impossible because of stubborn cumulus clouds and persistent winds," the United Launch Alliance (ULA) said in a blog entry. ULA is equally owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Since cumulus clouds have the potential to trigger lightning, they are dangerous for launches. ULA highlighted that if a rocket gets too close to these clouds, there may be strikes.
Taking on Starlink
Amazon foresees Project Kuiper enabling internet connections for remote locations. It shares the same aim as that of Elon Musk's Starlink. Satelite internet needs are greater today for regions damaged by catastrophes and in conflict areas.
Hundreds of miles from the surface of the planet, there will be an orbiting constellation named Kuiper. It will consist of more than 3,200 satellites altogether in its network, it is anticipated.
It could launch this year, according to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. While the cost has not been announced, it is expected to be priced in line with Amazon's brand of being inexpensive.
Amazon and SpaceX will compete head-to-head as a consequence of this effort. In 2019, Musk's company launched the initial Starlink satellites. It now has five million customers globally and over 6,750 satellites.
Starlink has offered internet connection in Ukraine and Morocco after the 2023 earthquake. During the conflict, it has been indispensable for the Ukrainian armed forces.
There Will Be More Launches
Kuiper and Starlink make use of low Earth orbit (LEO), unlike earlier systems. These satellites' height is between 550 and 1,300 kilometers. This aids to connect places that lack fiber connections and facilitates quicker transmissions.
But smaller areas are serviced by satellites in lower orbits. For full coverage, many satellites are thus needed. For future Kuiper satellite launches, Amazon has already booked 80 more launches.
Blue Origin, ULA, and even SpaceX will conduct these launches. In low Earth orbit, the spacecraft will be part of a growing number of others. These are China's Guowang, Europe's OneWeb, and Starlink.
Some experts are worried about crashes and satellite traffic. Interference with space observations is another problem.
Political tensions are heightened even further by the growing presence in space of private companies. Musk is a well-known space personality and a former adviser to Trump.
He has recently expressed doubts on Starlink's chances in Ukraine. Musk still announced in March that Starlink "will never turn off its terminals."
While Amazon's delay in launching is short, competition for space internet is intense. And it's only heating up.
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