Amazon has reached a significant milestone in its effort to build a space-based internet service, having manufactured its 1,000th satellite at its Kirkland, Washington factory. The company, which has spent years developing the Project Leo constellation, says it is now just weeks away from offering commercial service. The satellites will launch on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, with the upcoming return-to-flight mission carrying Amazon Leo satellites and another Vulcan being prepared for later this year.
The production ramp has been steep. According to Rajeev Badyal, the executive leading Amazon's broadband effort and a former Starlink leader fired by Elon Musk, the first 27 satellites took six months to build; the factory can now produce 27 per week. The company has already signed contracts including Delta Air Lines, a win that reportedly upset SpaceX's founder. With its 1,000th satellite built, Amazon is positioning itself as the only real alternative to Starlink for global satellite broadband, though it remains to be seen how quickly it can scale service and win customers from the established leader.