Starlink rival 'Project Kuiper' now calls itself Amazon Leo
What's the story
Amazon has officially rebranded its satellite internet initiative, Project Kuiper, to Amazon Leo. The name change is a nod to the term Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), where Amazon's constellation currently has 153 satellites operating at an altitude of 1,931km or less, with plans to deploy a total of 3,000 satellites. The original code name was inspired by the Kuiper Belt, an asteroid belt beyond Neptune in the outer solar system.
Launch strategy
Amazon Leo's ambitious satellite launch plan
Amazon plans to conduct over 80 missions, deploying some 3,000 spacecraft in total. So far, Leo has had six launches under its belt, including three with SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets carrying a total of 72 satellites. The company hopes that the new name will better reflect its mission and vision for this groundbreaking project.
Market competition
Amazon Leo aims to rival SpaceX's Starlink
Amazon's main competitor in the satellite internet space is SpaceX's Starlink, which has launched thousands of satellites. Just like Starlink, Amazon promises that Leo will extend fast and reliable internet to areas beyond the reach of existing networks. However, launching tens of thousands of satellites into orbit could lead to major problems such as too much debris, increased risk of collisions in orbit, and heightened danger for manned missions.