Project Kuiper, a rival to SpaceX's Starlink, initiates operations, deploying an initial fleet of 27 satellites.

Blazing a Trail in Cosmic Internet: Amazon's Kuiper and the Space Race Ahead

Amazon has entered the fray of satellite-powered internet access with the launch of its first "Project Kuiper" satellites. These 27 satellites now orbiting Earth are part of a future network aiming for over 1,000 satellites, expanding internet connectivity to remote areas crippled by disasters or conflicts.

Entering the orbit: Amazon's Kuiper hotshot.

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The orbit isn't just Amazon's playground; SpaceX's Starlink project and British-French company OneWeb are well-established players, and massive projects are underway in China: "Guowang" and the commercial "Qianfan" (Thousand Sails) aiming to launch thousands of satellites. Qianfan alone aspires to launch up to a staggering 15,000 satellites.

Clutter in the Cosmos: A Potential Hazard

Per a recent European Space Agency (ESA) report, more than 2,500 new objects were launched into low Earth orbit in 2024 - a fivefold increase compared to all years before 2020. This trend could lead to a surplus of around 50,000 objects larger than ten centimeters in this orbit by 2050. Daily satellite launches, amounting to four tons of materials, continue unabated.

Kuiper challenges Starlink in the race for the cosmic net.

Hazardous Head-Ons: A Grave Concern

In addition to operational satellites, there are millions of debris fragments hurtling at breathtaking speeds. ESA estimates that more than 1.2 million of these objects are large enough to inflict catastrophic damage during a collision. If two objects collide, hundreds of new debris parts could be created, potentially triggering a chain reaction of collisions.

Amazon's Kuiper system promises data transfer rates of up to 100 Mbps, 400 Mbps, or 1 Gbps, depending on the model.

Scholars coin this scenario the "Kessler syndrome" - a sequence of events that could make the entire orbit largely unusable. Climate change has also aggravated the situation by causing the upper atmosphere to contract, reducing its ability to pull old satellites or debris back into the Earth's atmosphere, where they would burn up.

A Matter of Regulation: Addressing the Issue at Hand

Surprisingly, there are currently no binding international rules for managing objects in orbit. Many operators rely on data from the U.S. military, which tracks object positions and updates catalogs regularly. Amazon has yet to disclose its plan for securely retiring Kuiper satellites from orbit at the end of their life spans. Collaboration between different providers also poses a challenge: if a Starlink satellite and a Kuiper satellite are on a collision course, at least one must change its trajectory, which consumes fuel and resources.

Avoiding selfish space wars: collaborative efforts seek a unified solution.

Close Calls in Orbit: A Frightening Reality

A near-disastrous incident in 2019 involved an ESA satellite that had to make an emergency course correction to dodge a Starlink satellite. A collision would have had far-reaching consequences, but communication with SpaceX allegedly failed, possibly due to a technical error in processing a warning email.

These events underscore the need for clear procedures in place. However, no international laws currently regulate such situations. The last binding agreements date back to 1967, a time when private space companies were still science fiction.

A Dangerous Marathon - Without a Finish Line

Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA, frankly acknowledges: "Space debris is a problem - and we need to act." Instead of waiting for slow international processes, experts urge companies to establish their own rules. Pioneers like SpaceX could propose meaningful standards based on their experiences. Coordinated action is crucial, as one thing is certain: without mutual agreements, space could become unusable within the foreseeable future, with dire consequences for global communication, navigation, and research.

[3] 25-Year Rule for orbital debris removal, a global guideline.[2] IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, practices for reducing debris generation.[3] ESA urges stricter debris disposal standards.[5] ClearSpace-1, Europe's first active debris removal mission launched in 2025.[4] Debris Avoidance Maneuvers (DAMs) performed regularly by space entities like the ISS.

The competition in satellite-powered internet access intensifies with Amazon's Kuiper system challenging SpaceX's Starlink and the ambitious projects in China.
While the race for cosmic internet expansion gains momentum, a potential hazard looms: the influx of debris from clutter in low Earth orbit.
Scholars warn of the "Kessler syndrome," a chain reaction of collisions that could render the orbit largely unusable, posing threats to global communication, navigation, and research.
In light of these risks, experts urge companies to self-regulate and establish guidelines for managing objects in orbit and for securely retiring satellites at the end of their life spans.
As rates of satellite launches and debris growth persist, a unified international solution becomes increasingly necessary to secure the future of space-and-astronomy, technology, finance, and society as a whole.