Amazon’s Project Kuiper is more than the company’s response to SpaceX

Post by gazelleeatslion » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 1:33 PM UTC

chmullig wrote: post #3

I feel like this massively overstates the advantages of an AWS to satellite link. They aren’t going to put tiny regions in space, so it’s just about data transit. Nobody would suggest AWS should start a cell phone company or fiber ISP just for bundling that with AWS. IP, possibly with a VPN, is a very solved issue for AWS access. It’s how 100% of their customers use AWS now, after all.

Post by polytely » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 1:36 PM UTC

akreal wrote: post #6

caiobegotti wrote: post #4

"If Kuiper succeeds [...]" That's the biggest if clause you will ever see about this because in order for it to succeed at all BO needs to actually launch something to orbit at least once before we talk about success of a commercial product on top of their rockets. I follow up SpaceX quite closely, I admit, but any news about products that absolutely depend on the launch capability of BO is vaporware at most and most…

They don't have to launch on BO, they can use any launch provider.

Post by dogma1138 » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 1:38 PM UTC

choeger wrote: post #9

akreal wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't have to launch on BO, they can use any launch provider.

They won't launch on spacex, for sure. And there literally is no one else offering the capabilities to do it. The article mentions 10 billion dollars. That is only about 50 launches with the "competition" of SpaceX. Ok, you might get a discount, but still you would have to place 20+ satellites into a launch vehicle and have pretty much one launch per month to meet the requirements. "vaporware" sounds about right to m…

Post by xwdv » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 1:40 PM UTC

gazelleeatslion wrote: post #11

chmullig wrote: post #3

I feel like this massively overstates the advantages of an AWS to satellite link. They aren’t going to put tiny regions in space, so it’s just about data transit. Nobody would suggest AWS should start a cell phone company or fiber ISP just for bundling that with AWS. IP, possibly with a VPN, is a very solved issue for AWS access. It’s how 100% of their customers use AWS now, after all.

Still... It would be cool to have a 17,000 mph PoP flying over your head at all times for your Serverless apps / edge workers.. https://mobile.twitter.com/harlandduman/status/1277800518010...

Post by haggy » Wed, Aug 19, 2020, 1:44 PM UTC

xwdv wrote: post #14

choeger wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They won't launch on spacex, for sure. And there literally is no one else offering the capabilities to do it. The article mentions 10 billion dollars. That is only about 50 launches with the "competition" of SpaceX. Ok, you might get a discount, but still you would have to place 20+ satellites into a launch vehicle and have pretty much one launch per month to meet the requirements. "vaporware" sounds about right to m…

Why not? The money is green and if SpaceX is convinced they could still beat a competitor with Starlink might as well make some extra dough? If Starlink can't beat Kupier they're dead anyway those satellites will go up eventually.