Amazon Taps SpaceX For Kuiper Launch (cnn.com) 12
An anonymous reader writes: Amazon just inked a deal with chief competitor and Elon Musk-helmed SpaceX to launch internet-beaming satellites -- a move that comes even as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos pursues his own space dreams with his own rocket company, Blue Origin, and as SpaceX builds its own internet constellation.
While Musk and Bezos have notoriously been publicly competitive and have a history of openly sparring on social media, with Musk regularly making crude jokes about Bezos and Blue Origin, it is not uncommon for business rivals to team up in the world of rocket launches. Some Amazon satellites will still ride on a large rocket made by Blue Origin, dubbed the New Glenn. But it's been delayed for years and will make its launch debut next year at the earliest.
While Musk and Bezos have notoriously been publicly competitive and have a history of openly sparring on social media, with Musk regularly making crude jokes about Bezos and Blue Origin, it is not uncommon for business rivals to team up in the world of rocket launches. Some Amazon satellites will still ride on a large rocket made by Blue Origin, dubbed the New Glenn. But it's been delayed for years and will make its launch debut next year at the earliest.
Bezo no longer works at amazon (Score:2)
More importantly, this makes good sense to do. They need to get the network started and SX can do it cheapest until new Glenn arrives.
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New glenn is t arriving in numbers or usefullness
Bo cant even build be-4 engines to spec and in quantity to supply vulcan let alone New Glenn. I expect vulcan to luanch once or twice a year.
Meanwhile falcon 9's aree launching hindreds of times a year and once starship launches will need something to keep them going. Nothing like a high milage rockect to put bezos sloppy seconds
Oh, what a little lawsuit will do. (Score:3)
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Mostly a gesture to FCC. If they hit June 2026 and only got 300 satellite in orbit, they need to show that they've made every effort to launch their birds. Not using all available provider that can launch will be a point against Amazon, especially not using the biggest launcher SpaceX.
Hope Bezos likes crow (Score:3)
Bezos will never hear the end of this. Even if it was the reasonable thing to do.
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As long as Bezos can keep the money flowing, Blue Origin will ultimately get their engine factory up to full capacity.
23 years and counting without an orbital launch attempt. So how much longer should we be waiting? It was just weeks ago that I heard he was planning to start building the New Genn Integration building and the BE-4 factory building. PLANNING not actually BUILDING yet. He has been PLANNING to put cargo to orbit for 23+ years. So I take it all with a dump truck full of salt.
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He only cares about money, not what us peons think of him.
It is good news.. (Score:2)
.. not for space nerds like me really as we were hoping that Blue Orginin would get it's act together and provide competition in the space industry.
But far more people are impacted by availability of good internet connection at a reasonable price, so having competition there is a good thing for far more people overall.
Bezos was reached for comment (Score:2)
When the rampaging pack of reporters finally cornered Bezos, he had no choice but to comment,
"Oops!" he muttered as he hung his head.