Amazon also operates a satellite processing center at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which supports launches with partners including Blue Origin, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. (Image: Amazon) After several successful satellite launches this year, Project Kuiper is now officially known as Amazon LEO.

The new name refers to low-Earth orbit (LEO) – orbits 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) above Earth – where Amazon’s 153 satellites currently operate. The former codename, Kuiper, referred to the Kuiper Belt, an asteroid belt beyond Neptune.

Amazon LEO’s mission is to provide reliable Internet access to underserved communities in many countries, including remote and hard-to-reach areas. Connectivity problems persist even near major cities, where traditional broadband is limited by factors such as cost, terrain and infrastructure.

While satellite Internet helps bridge these gaps, it requires substantial technological innovation and investment. Leveraging its scale and expertise, Amazon aims to help bridge the global digital divide.