Amazon launches second batch of Kuiper internet satellites, taking on Elon Musk's Starlink
Amazon's second batch of Kuiper internet satellites reached low Earth orbit on Monday, adding to its plans for a massive constellation and ramping up competition with SpaceX's Starlink.
A United Launch Alliance rocket carrying 27 Kuiper satellites lifted off from a launchpad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 6:54 a.m. ET, according to a livestream.
"We have ignition and lift off of United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper internet constellation, continuing a new chapter in low Earth orbit satellite connectivity," Ben Chilton, an ordnance engineer at ULA, said on the livestream following the launch.
Monday's mission was rescheduled twice, owing to inclement weather and a problem with the rocket booster.
Six years ago, Amazon unveiled its plans to build a constellation of internet-beaming satellites in low Earth orbit, called Project Kuiper. The service will compete directly with Elon Musk's Starlink, which currently dominates the market and has 8,000 satellites in orbit.
Amazon in April successfully sent up 27 Kuiper internet satellites into low Earth orbit, a region of space that's within 1,200 miles of the Earth's surface.
The 54 craft currently in orbit are the start of Amazon's planned constellation of 3,236 satellites. The company has to meet a Federal Communications Commission deadline to launch half of its total constellation, or 1,618 satellites, by July 2026.
The company has booked more than 80 launches with several providers, including rival SpaceX, to deliver Kuiper its satellites into orbit.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gizmodo
36 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
This 5-in-1 USB-C Hub Is Almost Free, Amazon Didn't Wait for Prime Day to Crush Its Price
Having a device that reduces the number of cables and ports you need to use is a lifesaver if you work with multiple gadgets. The Anker USB-C 5-in-1 Hub gets rid of frequent hassles like working with multiple chargers, adapters and data cables by combining important connections into one compact unit. This kind of hub is especially useful to modern laptops which usually only have a few ports. Last Black Friday, this Anker USB-C Hub cost $24 and since then it has been reduced only once to a phenomenal price of $18. Today is the second time that this specific offer has dropped this low: At just $18 on Amazon, down from $24, this offer does not come along very often. See at Amazon The Anker USB C Hub has five different ports in a single compact gadget so you can accommodate multiple accessories without having to struggle with connecting numerous adapters. It includes a 4K HDMI port that allows you to output high-definition video at 30Hz which is perfect for streaming or projecting your laptop screen onto a larger external display. Along with this, the hub also includes one USB-C data port and two USB-A ports that all have the ability to support fast data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps. This translates into transferring high volumes of files between your machines quickly and conveniently and this comes in handy for experts and creators who work with tons of data on a daily basis. It provides up to 85W pass-through charging and what that means is that you can keep your laptop powered while using the hub without sacrificing speed or performance. It is particularly helpful for MacBook Pro / Air, Dell, and other laptops that charge from USB-C. But it's worth mentioning that the USB-C charging port doesn't support data transfer and only supports charging, so any headphones or speakers plugged in via this port won't work for audio. Since deals like this are rare, make sure you don't miss it. See at Amazon
New York Post
41 minutes ago
- New York Post
These Tempur-Pedic Cooling Sheets are a heat wave must-have, and they're 50% before Prime Day
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. You might want to sit down for this one, readers, for more than one reason. Firstly, because it's scorching outside. And it's only going to get even more scorching-er. New York City is staring down the barrel of the first real heatwave of the summer, and it's going to be a doozy. And speaking of doozies, we're only a few weeks away from Amazon's huge Prime Day Sale, running from July 8 through 11. The kicker: Early Prime Day deals are already here. And there are even some that can help get you through this heatwave, like the Tempur-Pedic ProAir Sheet Set, available for a whopping 50% off ahead of Amazon's mega-sale. Available in four different colors, this Tempur-Pedic Sheet Set is designed with summer nights in mind, woven from moisture-wicking materials to keep you cool and comfortable all night long, no matter the temperature outside. Amazon The Tempur‑Pedic ProAir Sheet Set (King) blends 65% cotton with 35% Tencel Lyocell in an airy, fine‑mesh weave that maximizes breathability and wicks moisture. Its StayTight corner straps ensure a snug, stable fit on mattresses up to 15 inches deep. Soft, stretchy, and machine‑washable, it delivers a cool, secure, and luxurious night's sleep. Best of all? It's available for a whopping 50% off ahead of Prime Day, just in time for the heat wave. This article was written by P.J. McCormick, New York Post Commerce Deals Writer/Reporter. P.J. is an expert deal-finder, sifting through endless brands and retailers to deliver only the best savings opportunities on truly worthwhile products. P.J. finds Prime Day-worthy deals all year long on some of our favorite products we've tested and our readers' beloved best-sellers, from Wayfair furniture sales to the lowest prices on Apple AirPods. P.J. has been scouring sales for Post Wanted shoppers since 2022 and previously held positions at Rolling Stone, Pitchfork and Hyperallergic. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change. Looking for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping Post Wanted.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Starving The Watchdog—Budget Cuts To IRS-CI Undercut Crime Fighting
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 13: A sign for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seen outside its ... More building on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. Members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) arrived at the Internal Revenue Service to begin examining the agency's operations. (Photo by) The Department of Government Efficiency's proposal to cut up to 25% of IRS staffing earlier this year is a textbook case of false economy. Among the casualties in the fiscal pruning is the IRS Criminal Investigation division—one of the few federal agency divisions that, rather than costing money, regularly recovers more money than it spends. In 2024 alone, CI helped claw back $9.1 billion in fraudulent proceeds—with a budget of less than $800 million. Raw numbers only tell part of the story, as IRS-CI plays a central role in dismantling financial networks behind everything from international drug trafficking and terrorism to pandemic fraud and offshore tax shelters. Workforce and budget cuts don't just shrink the IRS ranks, they weaken law enforcement, threaten ongoing tax compliance, and ultimately make it easier for the wealthiest criminals to operate with impunity. Efficiency, it turns out, isn't just about firing employees. High ROI Law Enforcement Taken as a whole, IRS-CI is one of the federal government's most cost-effective investments. According to a recent Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) report, CI's budget grew to $779 million by 2023, a modest increase by the standards of Washington. In return, taxpayers received a 90% conviction rate, over 2,600 investigations initiated, more than $1.2 billion in asset seizures, $1.7 billion in restitution, and $9 billion in uncovered fraud. The numbers speak for themselves: CI returns many multiples of its cost to the Treasury, even before accounting for intangible returns like any effects it may have on deterrence. The policy logic here should be self-evident—an agency that pulls in more than it costs should be the last place to target when looking for cost-saving cuts. All the same, CI now finds itself on the chopping block—not because it underperforms but, apparently, because its ongoing success isn't politically expedient. IRS-CI Reach IRS Criminal Investigation is deeply embedded in some of the current administration's highest priorities. CI agents don't merely pore over tax returns, looking for inappropriate business expense deductions, they infiltrate cartels, track terror financing, and expose shell companies laundering money through global financial networks for all manner of ills. In 2023, CI helped root out fentanyl trafficking networks linked to the Sinaloa cartel and Chinese money laundering firms. These aren't abstract wins that IRS-CI happened to play some bit part in—they're real-world enforcement actions with direct implications for both safety and national security. Despite playing a central role in bipartisan enforcement priorities, from counter-narcotics and sanctions evasion to terrorism, CI is now facing a hiring freeze and looming cuts. Unless the pursued efficiency is on behalf of criminal elements, the proposed reductions risk contravening the administration's policy priorities. IRS-CI As Signal The IRS doesn't audit every return and, even when artificial intelligence reaches its zenith, it likely never will. What holds the tax system together isn't the omnipotence of the auditor, but the shadow of the audit—the perception that cheating is risky and noncompliance has dire consequences. Ultimately however, paying taxes is more than a legal obligation, it's a form of social signaling. People comply not just to avoid known penalties, but to affirm their identity as law-abiding citizens in good standing. That behavior is heavily conditioned, if in an attenuated sense, on the visible strength of enforcement. Folks pay their taxes so long as they believe others are paying their fair share and that not doing so would be socially frowned upon. Remove any of those premises and the argument for being honest on your returns falls apart. With every staffing and funding cut, the signal begins to fade. This isn't just a shift in bureaucratic priorities—it's the start of a feedback loop that potentially ends in compliance collapse. As enforcement wanes, high- Outlook Slashing IRS-CI resources might make for a cleaner budget line in 2026, but it's the epitome of short-term thinking. The coming rollback risks coming just as enforcement was regaining traction after years of cuts. In recent years, CI began targeting high-income tax evaders more aggressively, including a campaign in 2024 that brought in $1 billion from 1,600 millionaires. These are complex cases that require skilled agents, time, and resources. Scaling back now sinks not only future collections, but past expenditures made to spool up investigative momentum. The same administration calling for tougher action on drug cartels and foreign adversaries is proposing cuts to the unit that leads financial investigations into those bad actors. This isn't just fiscal negligence—it's reckless incoherence.
