Amazon invests $120 million in internet satellite facility

WASHINGTON: Amazon said Friday it will invest $120 million to build a satellite construction facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, as part of its plans to launch a space internet service to rival SpaceX’s Starlink.

The company founded by Jeff Bezos says its “Project Kuiper” will provide “fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world,” with a constellation of more than 3,200 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

“We have an ambitious plan to begin Project Kuiper’s full-scale production launches and early customer pilots next year, and this new facility will play a critical role,” said Steve Metayer, vice president of Kuiper Production Operations.