The Megaconstellation race is now getting real
Amazon launches first Project Kuiper satellites, Vega C launches successfully and more
Welcome to Aerospace Insider 🚀
Hope you are off to a good week. Let’s get to the news of the week.
Today’s summary:
🚀 Aerospace News: rockets are hard, but Europe is moving forward.
🔍 Deep Dive: Starlink has now got more competition
Aerospace Weekly Roundup
Catch the latest European & global space industry highlights you don’t want to miss!
🚀 Successful Vega C launch delivers ESA Biomass satellite to orbit
On April 29, a Vega C rocket launched from French Guiana successfully placed the ESA's Biomass satellite into orbit. The satellite, weighing 1,131 kilograms, was deployed into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of around 666 kilometers. The Biomass satellite is designed to measure carbon stored in forests using a P-band synthetic aperture radar, providing crucial data on global carbon stocks and dynamics over its 5.5-year mission. This launch marks Vega C's continued success after a previous failure in 2022.
🚀 Alpha launch of Lockheed tech demo satellite fails
A Firefly Alpha rocket carrying a Lockheed Martin technology demonstration satellite failed to reach orbit on April 29 due to a malfunction during stage separation. The rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, but debris and damage to the upper stage's engine nozzle prevented it from achieving orbital velocity. The payload, an LM 400 satellite, was lost as the rocket reentered over the South Pacific. This marks the sixth launch of Alpha, with only two previous missions considered fully successful.
🚀 POLARIS Spaceplanes prepares for in-flight refuelling milestone
Germany's POLARIS Spaceplanes is set to achieve a significant milestone with its AURORA spaceplane by attempting in-flight refuelling. AURORA, designed for hypersonic flight testing and satellite deployment, will undergo docking experiments soon as part of a seven-month flight testing campaign over the Baltic Sea. This capability aims to extend AURORA's range and increase payload capacity, with operational flights planned to start in 2028.
🚀 MaiaSpace selects Łukasiewicz–ILOT for kick-stage engine development
French startup MaiaSpace has chosen the Łukasiewicz Research Network’s Institute of Aviation to develop the engine for its Colibri kick stage. The engine, based on the GRACE initiative, will produce 420 newtons of thrust and be tested at Łukasiewicz–ILOT's new facility in Warsaw. MaiaSpace's Maia rocket, set to launch in 2026, will use this kick stage to enhance payload performance.
🌐 Amazon launches first 27 Project Kuiper internet satellites
Amazon has launched its first 27 Project Kuiper satellites, marking the company's entry into the satellite internet market. The satellites, deployed into orbit on Monday evening, aim to provide high-speed internet connectivity worldwide. This initiative positions Amazon to compete with SpaceX's Starlink, which already has thousands of satellites in orbit. The Kuiper satellites were launched aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket and will gradually move to their operational orbit at ~630 km above Earth.
💰 Space startups raise funds for growth
Several space startups have secured funding to drive innovation: True Anomaly raised $260 million, Apex $200 million for spacecraft manufacturing, Near Space Labs $20 million for high-altitude imaging, and SatLeo Labs $3.3 million for satellite communications.
🔍 What caught your eye this week? I (try to) cover the best stories but there’s always more happening. Reply and let me know what space news you found most interesting or what I should cover next! I read all replies.
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Amazon Joins the Satellite Internet Race: But Kuiper Isn’t Just a Starlink Clone
Amazon has launched its first 27 operational satellites for Project Kuiper, marking its real entry into the megaconstellation arena. The constellation, announced back in 2019, aims to eventually rival SpaceX’s Starlink but let’s be clear: Kuiper isn’t simply a copy of Starlink.
Yes, both Kuiper and Starlink are building large LEO constellations to deliver internet globally. And yes, Amazon has a lot of catching up to do (still less than IRIS2, though). Starlink now operates over 7300 satellites and serves millions of customers worldwide. But Amazon might be (or should be, at least) playing a different game.
Kuiper’s not-so-hidden advantage?
While Starlink has gone full consumer-focused (shipping terminals, signing up users, and moving into mobile, aviation, maritime) Kuiper is starting much quieter. In fact, Amazon has been famously secretive about its satellite design until just now. Compare that to SpaceX’s build in public approach.
But Kuiper does have an advantage: the Amazon ecosystem. Between its massive cloud infrastructure (AWS), logistics muscle and enterprise client base, Amazon doesn’t necessarily need to chase home internet users. It could aim to integrate Kuiper into:
Cloud-linked satellite services: think edge computing or real-time Earth observation tied directly into AWS.
Enterprise and government contracts: this is a classic one for which everyone fights.
Logistics and internal use: Amazon’s own operations in remote areas could benefit from Kuiper directly.
So while Starlink is the current leader in consumer broadband from orbit, Kuiper could be more focused on building the foundations for data infrastructure in space: perhaps even involving space-based data centres?
And Europe?
Meanwhile, Europe is still preparing for IRIS², the EU’s own “sovereign” broadband constellation. It’s meant to provide sovereignty, redundancy, and secure comms across the continent… but it’s not designed for scale like Starlink or Kuiper. Launches won’t start before 2027 (and I’d be willing to bet there won’t be any launch before 2030).
At the national level, Germany and Italy are also planning their own constellations, which in a way summarises Europe’s fragmented way of doing things.
The Space Internet Landscape Is Getting Real
With OneWeb Eutelsat also making the headlines, Starlink growing non-stop, and Kuiper finally in orbit, the global satellite broadband race is heating up. Amazon still needs to launch thousands more satellites and demonstrate real-world performance (and the clock’s ticking to keep the FCC licence) but its long-term ambitions may not be about matching Starlink user-for-user.
What Europe does next (and how quickly!) will determine whether it’s just a customer of these networks or a real player in shaping the future of space-based connectivity.
Clock’s ticking… but for Europe this time.
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Jaime