SpaceX Starlink - Project Kuiper Tests 1000 Dishes

Summary

In this video, the creator discusses Jeff Bezos's ambitious project Kuiper, a satellite internet system aimed at rivaling SpaceX's Starlink. While Kuiper has obtained a license to test 1,000 prototype antennas, the creator raises skepticism about the project's progress and viability. With only two prototype satellites currently in orbit and challenges in launching production satellites, the creator questions whether Kuiper can compete with Starlink's rapid deployment. The video explores technical aspects of satellite internet, dish sizes, and the potential impact of Kuiper on the market, inviting viewers to share their thoughts on the rivalry between Bezos and Musk in the race for satellite internet dominance.

Takeaways

• 😃 Jeff Bezos' Project Kuiper is testing over 1,000 prototype antennas for its satellite internet service, aiming to rival SpaceX's Starlink.
• 🛰️ Project Kuiper has only launched two prototype satellites so far, but plans to send up the first production satellites in the first half of 2023.
• 📡 The antennas being tested come in three sizes: enterprise-grade (up to 1 Gbps), standard (up to 400 Mbps, under $400 to manufacture), and portable (up to 100 Mbps).
• ⏱️ Project Kuiper aims to begin beta testing with commercial customers in the second half of 2024, though the presenter expresses skepticism about this timeline.
• 🚀 Bezos' company Blue Origin and Arianespace have been unable to launch Kuiper satellites, leaving United Launch Alliance (ULA) as the primary launch provider.
• 🌐 The presenter questions the viability of Kuiper's service with only a few hundred satellites, compared to Starlink's rapidly growing constellation.
• 💰 There are rumors of shareholders suing Bezos for not accepting a ride-share from SpaceX to accelerate Kuiper's deployment.
• 🔍 The presenter explains how phased array antennas work and the impact of antenna size on performance and tracking capabilities.
• 🤔 The presenter is skeptical about Kuiper's ability to provide consumer-grade service anytime soon, possibly not even by the end of 2025.
• 💻 The presenter encourages viewers to check out his website for photography tools and resources, and to support his work if they find value in it.

Q & A

What is Project Kuiper?

Project Kuiper is Amazon's initiative to build a satellite internet system to rival SpaceX's Starlink. It aims to provide high-speed internet access through a network of satellites in low Earth orbit.

How many prototype satellites has Project Kuiper launched so far?

According to the video, Project Kuiper has only launched two prototype satellites so far, named KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2, in October 2022.

What is the purpose of the 1,000 prototype antennas that Amazon plans to test?

Amazon has received FCC approval to test up to 1,000 prototype antennas or customer terminals across the US. The purpose is to validate the over-the-air performance of these antennas before commencing their manufacturing for the commercial service.

When does Amazon plan to begin beta testing Project Kuiper with commercial customers?

According to the video, Amazon plans to begin beta testing Project Kuiper with early commercial customers sometime in the second half of 2024.

What are the planned internet speed tiers for Project Kuiper?

The video mentions that Amazon plans to offer three types of satellite dishes: an enterprise-grade receiver with speeds up to 1 Gbps, a standard dish with speeds up to 400 Mbps (costing less than $400 to manufacture), and a portable model with speeds up to 100 Mbps.

What challenges has Project Kuiper faced in launching satellites?

The video mentions that Amazon's contracted launch providers, Arianespace and Blue Origin (owned by Jeff Bezos), were unable to launch any Kuiper satellites into orbit. United Launch Alliance (ULA) was the only provider that managed to launch the two prototype satellites.

How does the video compare the satellite launch cadence of Project Kuiper and SpaceX Starlink?

The video highlights the significant difference in launch cadence between the two projects. It notes that SpaceX is launching batches of 20-23 satellites on a frequent basis (sometimes multiple launches per day), while Project Kuiper has only managed to launch two prototypes so far.

What concern does the video raise about Jeff Bezos' approach to Project Kuiper?

The video raises concerns that Jeff Bezos' reluctance to collaborate with Elon Musk's SpaceX for satellite launches might be inhibiting the progress of Project Kuiper, leading to speculation that the project might be shut down before it becomes operational.

How does the size of the satellite antenna affect its performance?

The video explains that larger antennas with more elements can track satellites more accurately and experience less rain fade compared to smaller antennas. It also clarifies that the field of view for these antennas is not a perfect cone but more like a squashed cone, with a wider horizontal angle than vertical.

What is the significance of the eoWebCast feature mentioned in the video?

The video mentions that SpaceX's new satellites have built-in eoWebCast transmitters, which essentially turn the satellites into wireless cell towers, allowing direct communication between user devices and the satellites without the need for ground-based infrastructure.

Outlines

00:00

📺 Overview of Jeff Bezos' Project Kuiper and Its Potential to Rival SpaceX Starlink

The video script introduces Jeff Bezos' project Kuiper, which aims to compete with SpaceX's Starlink by providing satellite internet services. It mentions that Kuiper has been granted a temporary license by the FCC to test over 1,000 prototype antennas across the United States. The video creator expresses skepticism about Kuiper's progress, as they currently only have two prototype satellites in orbit, while SpaceX has been rapidly launching new Starlink satellites.

05:01

🛰️ Project Kuiper's Satellite Dish Testing and Potential Launch Timeline

This paragraph discusses Amazon's plans for testing Project Kuiper's prototype satellite dishes and the potential timeline for launching production satellites. The FCC has authorized Kuiper to test up to 1,000 prototype dishes across the US over a 6-month period starting in April. Amazon aims to beta test Kuiper with commercial customers in the second half of 2024. The video creator expresses doubt about Kuiper's ability to launch a significant number of production satellites by then, given their current pace and reliance on other launch providers.

10:02

🔭 Exploring the Technicalities of Phased Array Antennas and Satellite Tracking

This paragraph delves into the technical aspects of phased array antennas used in satellite internet systems like Starlink and Project Kuiper. It explains how these antennas track satellites without physically moving, using constructive interference and timing adjustments. The video creator discusses the relationship between antenna size, data throughput, and rain fade resistance. Additionally, they clarify the misconception about the cone-shaped coverage area, explaining that it's more of a squashed cone shape with varying horizontal and vertical coverage angles.

15:04

🤔 Doubts and Speculations Surrounding Project Kuiper's Viability

In this paragraph, the video creator expresses skepticism about Project Kuiper's viability and timeline. They speculate that Bezos might shut down the project before it goes live due to his reluctance to use SpaceX's launch services, driven by a perceived rivalry with Elon Musk. The creator believes that Kuiper will struggle to provide consumer-grade service in the near future, citing the slow pace of satellite launches and the potential lack of cooperation with SpaceX. They predict that Kuiper may not be available to consumers until 2026 or later, depending on the rate of satellite deployments.

Keywords

💡Project Kuiper

Project Kuiper is a planned satellite internet constellation being developed by Amazon, aimed at providing high-speed internet access globally. It is a direct competitor to SpaceX's Starlink. The video discusses the project's progress, with Amazon planning to test 1,000 prototype antennas and launch its first production satellites in 2023.

💡Starlink

Starlink is SpaceX's satellite internet constellation, which is already operational and rapidly expanding. The video compares Project Kuiper's development to Starlink's progress and questions whether Amazon's project should be a concern for SpaceX. Starlink is frequently mentioned as the benchmark against which Project Kuiper's capabilities are measured.

💡Satellites

Satellites are the core components of both Starlink and Project Kuiper. The video discusses the challenges Amazon has faced in launching even prototype satellites, while SpaceX has been able to deploy its satellites at a much faster rate. The number of satellites a company can launch and maintain in orbit is crucial for providing global internet coverage.

💡Antennas/Dishes

Antennas or dishes are the ground-based receivers that communicate with the satellites to provide internet connectivity. The video mentions Amazon's plans to test 1,000 prototype antennas, with different models offering varying internet speeds and portability. The size and capabilities of these antennas are discussed, as they impact factors like data throughput and signal quality.

💡Launch Providers

Launch providers are the companies responsible for launching satellites into orbit. The video highlights Amazon's struggles with its launch partners, including Blue Origin (owned by Jeff Bezos), Arianespace, and United Launch Alliance (ULA). Amazon's reliance on these providers and their launch cadence is seen as a potential bottleneck for Project Kuiper's progress.

💡Beta Testing

Beta testing refers to the preliminary testing phase of a product or service with a limited user base before a wider commercial launch. The video mentions Amazon's plans to begin beta testing Project Kuiper with commercial customers in the second half of 2024, indicating the project's timeline and readiness for real-world testing.

💡Internet Speeds

Internet speeds are a crucial factor in satellite internet services. The video discusses the different speed tiers planned for Project Kuiper's antennas, ranging from 100 Mbps for portable models to 1 Gbps for enterprise-grade receivers. These speeds are compared to Starlink's capabilities and are a key selling point for potential customers.

💡Rain Fade

Rain fade is a phenomenon where heavy rainfall can disrupt the signal between satellites and ground-based antennas, leading to reduced internet speeds or connectivity issues. The video explains how larger antennas are less susceptible to rain fade compared to smaller ones, highlighting the trade-offs between antenna size and performance.

💡Phased Array Antennas

Phased array antennas are the type of antennas used by both Starlink and Project Kuiper. The video provides a brief explanation of how these antennas work, using constructive interference to dynamically adjust the beam direction without physically moving the antenna. This technology allows the antennas to track satellites as they move across the sky.

💡Rivalry

The video touches upon the perceived rivalry between Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and Elon Musk (SpaceX). It speculates that Bezos's reluctance to collaborate with SpaceX for launch services might stem from this rivalry, potentially hindering Project Kuiper's progress. The competition between the two companies and their respective satellite internet projects is a recurring theme.

Highlights

Jeff Bezos's project Kuiper tests over 1,000 new prototype antennas, raising questions about competition with SpaceX's Starlink.

The FCC granted Amazon's subsidiary Kuiper Systems a temporary license to operate up to 1,000 prototype dishes for its satellite internet system.

Kuiper Systems plans to conduct tests over a 6-month period starting in April, operating no more than 200 customer terminals at the same time.

Amazon plans to beta test project Kuiper with early commercial customers in the second half of 2024.

Kuiper plans to offer three kinds of satellite dishes: an enterprise-grade receiver promising up to 1 Gbps speeds, a standard dish with up to 400 Mbps speeds costing less than $400, and a portable dish with up to 100 Mbps speeds.

Amazon has only launched two prototype satellites for project Kuiper so far but plans to send up the first production satellites in the first half of 2023.

The speaker expresses skepticism about Bezos' ability to get enough satellites launched quickly enough to provide a viable service, citing challenges with launch providers.

The size of the dish antenna matters for performance, with larger dishes providing better data rates and less susceptibility to rain fade.

Phased array antennas dynamically adjust the timing of signals to track satellites without physically moving the dish.

The antenna's field of view is not a circular cone but more squashed, seeing a wide 110-120° horizontally but only 30-40° vertically.

The speaker speculates that Bezos may shut down project Kuiper before it goes live due to his reluctance to use SpaceX for launches.

Starlink satellites are being launched at a rapid cadence, sometimes with multiple launches per day, while Kuiper has struggled to get satellites to orbit.

New Starlink satellites have integrated technology to also function as wireless cell towers, allowing direct phone connectivity.

The speaker encourages discussion on whether Kuiper will be viable soon or if the project may fail before properly launching.

The speaker promotes sharing the video, visiting their website for photography tools, and supporting their work through merch purchases.

Transcripts

Jeff bezos's project Kyper tests over

1,000 new prototype antennas should

SpaceX starlink be worried let's go talk

about

it hey everybody welcome back to the

channel thank you so much once again

joining me for tea time today we have a

little bit of Fireside so good so good

guys I hope you're joining me with your

cup of tea maybe a cup of coffee hanging

out talking Tech talking photo talking

video today's a technology day we're

going to be talking about project Kyper

and Jeff Bezos is bull you know I like

to give you an update the last time I

did a video about this stuff it was

about five six months ago and I want to

bring you up to speed what's going on

and like I just said project Kyper will

be testing a th000 consumer grade let's

call it

antennas so I was reading an article

over on PC Magazine I want to go go

through some of that with you and then I

want to give you my commentary on what I

think about all of this and then of

course I want to hear from you down

below do you think that Jeff bezos's

project Kyper is something that SpaceX

starlink should be worrying about let me

know once again down below in the

comments the hell's going on with my

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slvp anyways guys let's jump right into

this article now that all of the

housekeeping is done starts out by

saying the FCC grants Amazon subsidiary

company Kyper systems a temporary

license to operate up to 1,000 prototype

dishes for the satellite engine internet

system which aims to rival

starlink now if you didn't know the

video that I did about five months ago

right I was talking about how finally

they were able to get a couple of

satellites into orbit prototype

satellites I call them Kyper Sat one and

Kyper SAT 2 that was right around I

believe it was like October October 6th

if my memory serves me right around

there let's call it October of last year

that was the first time they got any

satellites into orbit after years of

trying so and they have contracts with

three different companies you have Aryan

space you have blue origin that's

actually owned by Jeff Bezos himself and

you have Ula which is United launch

Alliance now Aryan space and blue origin

his own company none of them were able

to get a satellite into orbit and they

tried okay finally Ula put a couple of

prototypes into Leo this was a big deal

once again this was in October so as of

today just to give a scope on what's

going on right there is

two two prototype satellites from Bezos

in orbit there's two okay keep that in

mind anyways the article starts out by

saying Amazon's starlink rival project

Kyper is going to start testing hundreds

of prototype dishes to connect the

company's satellite internet

Network the f C today granted Amazon

subsidiary company Kyper systems a

special temporary authority to operate

up to 1,000 dish prototypes in various

locations across the US so it's not

going to be a th000 different prototypes

to test them out it's going to be just a

thousand prototypes okay not a thousand

different but a thousand prototypes in

different areas of the country to see

how this service

works with their two

satellites I don't get the purpose of

this but anyways I digress according to

an application filed with the FCC Kyper

systems requested the license last month

to validate the overair performance of

the Prototype dishes before commencing

product manufacturing makes sense to do

that Kyper systems plans to conduct the

test over a 6month period starting in

April Amazon will operate no more than

200 of the CTS or customer terminals at

the same time this is what the company

added in the FCC filing hence the

company is close to finalizing the

Satellite Dish designed for project

Kyper which will beam high-speed

internet to users on the ground the

company plans on beta testing project

Kyper with early commercial customers

sometime in the second half of

2024 guys the second half of 2024 before

I mean we're in March right so we have 9

months left in the entire year so second

half let's call it like 6 months let's

give them six months 5 months from now

they're going to beta test with

commercial customers they have two

satellites up there I mean Elon is

putting up like 23 at a time and he's

launching weekly sometimes batches of

these so he's getting maybe 50 75 up

there I mean they were able to get two

in orbit over the course of many

years I I don't know I I don't get it

maybe you guys can get it I don't I

don't get it price for the service has

not been revealed there is no

service but as of a year ago Amazon said

it would offer three kinds of satellite

dishes for project Kyper the largest and

Enterprise grade receiver promises to

offer speeds up to 1 gigabits down while

the standard project Kyper dish will

support maximum speeds of 400 megabits

down and cost less than $400 to

manufacture that's not bad actually if

they actually do it the company also

plans on releasing a third model

designed for portability that will offer

speeds up to 100 megabits down that's

not bad now my understanding was the

smaller dish that they were talking

about is going to be a little like 8 by9

or something a small dish very similar

to what BX will be offering before the

end of this year it's something that you

can slip in your backpack pull it out

set it up with a little kickstand and

boom you have 100 megabits or whatever

download speed in the middle of nowhere

pretty damn cool I'm going to get into

that in just a second how size does

matter a little bit and I'll talk about

that in just a second anyways the

article finalizes with this so far

Amazon has only launched two prototype

satellites for project Kyper I just told

you guys that but the company plans on

sending up the first production

satellites for the internet system in

the first half of this

year they don't they got three months

left okay the fact that Amazon plans on

testing the Prototype dishes starting in

April suggests the production satellites

will go up

soon okay so they're ready to launch

supposedly production quality or

production models of satellites which

with only two beta test models currently

up there okay if you guys can do it more

power to you I think it's awesome but

once again round robing to what I said

before how many they going to be able to

get up in the next 6

months I mean his own company bezos's

own company blue origin cannot get a

satellite into

orbit Aryan space who they also

contracted cannot get a satellite into

orbit so who do you have left you have U

LA and that is it now like I told you in

that past video there are a bunch of

shareholders I got I'm not going to get

into it in this video there's a bunch of

shareholders that were putting together

a lawsuit against Jeff Bezos and the

company that's basically stating that

Bezos has a chip on his shoulder and he

really needs to get a ride share from

Elon Musk so that we can now get some

money back from all of the money that we

are investing in this project by Bezos

not asking Elon Musk for the ride share

he is inhibiting he is preventing

project Kyper from ever going live I

don't care what this article says I

don't care what they believe or anyone

else believes I'm telling you just think

about it even if they were to get 1 150

satellites up there this year which will

never happen let's just say he's got 150

satellites what is he going to do with

that all right that's just a couple of

satellites going at 177,000 mph around

the planet it's not like one geoss

satellite that sits in one spot all the

time beaming its data and receiving its

data from 36,000 kilometers no its

satellites spinning around at 177,000

mil hour and they're not very many

overhead and they're not overhead for a

very long time so what kind of service

are you going to get I mean just think

about it it's just it it's just

perplexing to me all right it doesn't

make any sense and if it makes sense to

you please let me know what do you think

about this do you think that Bezos is

going to be able to get either Aryan

space or his company blue origin to put

a satellite into space anytime

soon I don't know I think he's going to

be dependent reliant on Ula and how fast

they can turn these Rockets over and

using

history it doesn't happen very often I

mean Ula will probably turn one over

over maybe once a month how many are

they going to stick into that fairing

let's say 20 satellites 30 satellites

even at once a month 6 month let's say

let's give them 30 that's 180 satellites

now coming back to the size of the dish

I always like to give you a little bit

of information right this supposed to be

like edutainment right not like a news

report some people are like why don't

you just get to the point

faster if you want faster just go to CNN

all right watch one of this is a vlog

we're just talking and hanging out here

right anyways I always like to school

you a little bit right now the size of

the dish does matter and that's why when

you see the commercial dish they're so

big they're like 22 in by 20 in right

they're massive in comparison to ours

that are only like 20 inch by like 15 in

and now they're going to be making a

dish that's like the size of an iPad a

little 7 by8 or something like that

small 10-in Max I don't know little the

same thing what project Kyper is

speculating doing eventually one day

with their portable unit

now these are phased array antennas

people asked me in the past like well

how does it actually track the satellite

and does the size matter well starting

out with how it tracks as a phased array

antenna the way it tracks is you have

all of these elements let's say on the

flat panel of that dish and those

elements now change the direction where

they're pointing not by changing the

direction of the dish it doesn't work

like that it changes dynamically it

adjusts the timing of the signals using

what is called constructive interference

where it's interfering with the beam all

right and now directing it or bending it

think of it this way if all elements

were on simultaneously in the same phase

okay it would be like shining a

flashlight into space right but as you

manipulate dynamically manipulate this

timing of each one of them you can

adjust where it is

pointing hence that's how it tracks the

satellites without having to move the

dish now when you have more elements you

are getting more data in and you can

adjust that tracking a little bit better

let's say all right also by getting more

data in that's why we see the commercial

grade the big ass units getting less

rain fade in comparison to the standard

smaller units so the smaller units are

going to be susceptible to rain fade

where the bigger ones are going to be

less susceptible also what is

interesting here and a lot of people

don't know and I figur I'd share it with

you is when you hear that the starlink

or project kpe or whatever their antenna

is able to see 110 degree angle angle or

100° angle 120° angle whatever I think

starlink is around 110 to 120° right

that's what it's seeing well it is

seeing

120° horizontally people think because

they hear it's a cone it's a cone it

it's kind of not a cone it is a cone but

it's not a circular cone what it's

seeing look at it this way when you

point your dish and it's pointing to the

north people are like well why doesn't

get the satellites overhead you know

it's this big

110° well that's not how it works it's

110° this way but it's only about

30° maybe 40° this way you follow that

it's like a squash cone something like

that so that's why when you point it

overhead yes it's getting this vast 120°

just think 180° is a straight line so

120° is a lot it sees a lot of space it

sees a lot of the sky but remember it's

only seeing 30° let's call it maybe 40°

this way top to bottom so anyways guys I

just wanted to share that with you what

do you think about this whole Bezos

that I always call it I mean I

don't know I I've was speculating last

year that he will shut down this project

before it goes

live and the reason why I was

speculating this is because because he

just is so pigheaded that he will not he

will not just allow his company to use

Elon Musk for anything right he just has

this this thing billionaire to

billionaire thing this rivalry now I was

hearing at the end of last year that

supposedly he is going to contract now

with Elon mus for certain missions a few

or whatever he was saying and I almost

feel like he did that just to appease

all right the shareholders that were

going to sue

him I just don't think he's going to use

Elon Musk and in so doing the project

will eventually die now if it doesn't

die we are not going to see any type of

project Kyper in our homes or offices

anytime in the near future not at all in

2024 and I think in 2025 he will be hard

pressed to be able to give a consumer

grade production model to any of us even

before the end of 2025 I just don't see

it 2026 maybe and it really is going to

depend on how many satellites he can get

up there and how quickly what will be

the Cadence we see the Cadence of SpaceX

those satellites are flying literally

it's 23 from from Florida it's another

23 over there in California yeah it's a

23 20 it's just constant sometimes

there'll be three launches in a day holy

crap that is a lot of launches right

that is a lot and all of the new

satellites that are going up they all

have the eode BS built in I told you

about that in the past video the Eno

beads are basically a transmitter let's

say on board these satellites that turn

the satellites also into wireless cell

towers so that you can use your phone

outside connecting directly to the

satellite without having any Wi-Fi

without having any cell towers near you

directly to a satellite almost like the

aridium things like the old SAT phones

you'd pay like $1,500 a month for some

crazy crap remember

those anyways guys what do you think

down below let's have this discussion do

you think this is going to be something

will be viable soon do you think that

I'm just wet behind the ears I'm just

completely off here or do you think that

they're going to go out of business

before they even go in business or

whatever anyways I want to hear from you

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