Amazon’s Kuiper satellites to get boost from rival SpaceX

Amazon’s Project Kuiper, aiming to establish a major satellite internet constellation with over 3,200 satellites, is receiving launch support from its chief competitor, SpaceX. On July 16, 2025, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will carry 24 Kuiper satellites into orbit, increasing the total Kuiper satellites in space to 78. This collaboration follows a December 2023 agreement after Amazon initially excluded SpaceX from its first round of launch contracts, despite the Falcon 9’s reputation for reliability. Amazon faces a regulatory deadline to deploy at least half of Kuiper’s initial constellation by July 2026, putting pressure on its launch schedule. Besides SpaceX, other launch providers include United Launch Alliance (ULA), which has already launched the first two Kuiper batches, and Blue Origin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ other company, which plans to use its New Glenn rocket but has yet to demonstrate full operational capability. The partnership with SpaceX highlights the competitive yet interdependent nature