Amazon.com  Inc., the multinational technology company, On Friday, the tech giant owned by Jeff Bezos is ready to send out its initial pair of test satellites for Project Kuiper. This move signifies the fast-paced efforts of Amazon's venture to establish an extensive constellation of internet-enabled satellites in space, joining the competition againstSpaceX's Starlink .

The test satellites are scheduled to launch from Florida on United Launch Alliance's reliable Atlas V rocket. Referred to as the "protoflight" initiative, Amazon's satellites, originally scheduled for deployment a year ago, aim to evaluate the company's capacity to transmit high-speed internet directly from space.

Initially, Amazon's Project Kuiper intended to deploy its initial two prototype satellites using United Launch Alliance's state-of-the-art Vulcan Centaur rocket. Nevertheless, because of setbacks in the Vulcan development program, Amazon made the decision to transition to ULA's Atlas V rocket.

The Atlas V has earned a reputation as a dependable and extensively utilized launch vehicle for diverse missions. The highly advanced Atlas 501 variant employed for the mission possesses extensive capabilities, allowing it to transport a payload of nearly 18,000 pounds into low Earth orbit .Such impressive power surpasses the minimum requirement for launching two Kuiper satellites.

Additionally, Amazon is required by the Federal Communications Commission to deploy half of the 3,236 satellites for the Kuiper constellation no later than mid-2026. The decision to switch from Vulcan to the Atlas V was probably influenced by the demanding timetable.

Previously, the company has expressed its intention to cater to a large number of customers and bridge the gap between those with and without digital access by providing reasonably priced, fast internet service to communities globally that currently lack or have limited access.

According to Amazon, KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 were successfully deployed into orbit 311 miles above Earth by the Atlas V rocket, launched by United Launch Alliance  (ULA).

The rocket-delivery system modifications caused a postponement of the launch, originally slated for late 2022.

However, following a fruitful initiation, the prototype satellites will now undergo comprehensive testing to assess every aspect of the Kuiper System prior to the implementation of the complete network.

Today's launch marks the commencement of a fresh stage in our Protoflight mission, signaling a thrilling milestone towards our goal. Although there is still a considerable distance to cover, we are enthusiastic about the progress made so far. Rajeev Badyal, Vice President of Technology for Project Kuiper, expressed his excitement.

Project Kuiper, being the most well-established low-orbit satellite-internet service, will directly compete with Elon Musk's Starlink broadband network.

Since May 2019, over 4,000 Starlink satellites have been sent into space, and just recently, SpaceX revealed that their internet services are now being utilized by over 2 million customers.

Starlink's high-speed internet is accessible in over 60 countries and numerous markets across all 7 continents, already serving more than 2 million active customers and continuing to grow.

The introduction of satellite internet networks  is revolutionizing connectivity in rural areas, effectively closing the digital divide. The ability of satellite internet to connect and offer fast internet to inhabitants residing in remote or underserved areas is frequently emphasized.

They have also demonstrated great efficacy as an alternative solution in instances where conventional communication systems are disrupted by either natural calamities or human-induced emergencies.

The Canadian satellite operator Telesat and OneWeb, owned by the French satellite company Eutelsat and the British government, have also entered the satellite internet competition alongside Amazon.

Insider made a comment request to Amazon outside of their regular working hours, to which Amazon has not yet responded.

Furthermore, in the event of hurricanes or other natural disasters causing communication disruption, the technology can serve as an essential safeguard.

However, the scientific community has expressed concerns about the rapid deployment of a "megaconstellation" consisting of numerous satellites, with some astronomers advocating for a limit on low-altitude satellites in order to mitigate light pollution and protect our capacity to observe the stars. A recent conference organized by the International Astronomical Union highlights the significant advantages for humanity, yet also acknowledges the corresponding worries regarding the influence of extensive satellite constellations on the night sky.

There are also reservations regarding the reliance of global satellite communications on the unpredictable decisions of two long-standing, egoistic billionaires. In a recent statement, Musk admitted to withholding his Starlink network from Ukrainian forces as a strategic measure to avert a potential drone assault on a Russian naval fleet. Musk's recent statement denying Ukrainian forces access to the Starlink communications network for a specific operation was the first time he explicitly refused their request. This comes after reports of previous threats to withdraw this crucial digital lifeline, which has been supporting Ukraine since the early days of the war.

Afterwards, the spacecraft's systems will undergo testing, power will be generated by deploying solar arrays, and efforts will be made to transmit internet connections from space to a customer terminal on Earth.

Amazon has made agreements with ULA, Arianespace, and its subsidiary Blue Origin, associated with Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos, to carry out a maximum of 77 satellite launches in the coming years. The majority of these missions will utilize advanced rockets that are yet to be tested, including ULA's Vulcan, Arianespace's Ariane 6, and Blue Origin's New Glenn.