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Musk vs Bezos – Amazon to take on SpaceX yet again

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Amazon plans to take on Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the satellite internet arena

Amazon has outlined its plans to deliver internet from space under Project Kuiper.

The company says it will be done by sending more than 3000 small satellites in low Earth orbit.

The e-commerce giant had signed a multi-billion-dollar contract back in April, securing 83 launches for its Project Kuiper from Arianespace, Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance.

Amazon plans to take on Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the satellite internet arena. Picture: Amazon Science

The contract was the the largest rocket deal in the history of the commercial space industry

“These launch agreements reflect our incredible commitment and belief in Project Kuiper and we’re proud to be working with such an impressive lineup of partners to deliver on our mission,” Dave Limp, the Senior Vice President for Amazon Devices & Services says in a written statement.

Tech expert Greg Nibler says Amazon is an “economic powerhouse” that has bought its way into becoming a “viable competitor”.

“With Amazon securing these contracts… will give them enough to provide some pretty reliable internet to a lot of places around the globe,” Nibler says.

SpaceX has about 2000 satellites already up in the space and a clearance to put up 12,000 but Nibler says while SpaceX is ahead of its game, Amazon is already in households across the globe.

“You think of that as just ready made customers,” he says.

“I bet that’s what they’re going to do… integrate it in with everything they’ve already got,” Nibler says, calling it a huge competitive advantage.

SpaceX’s Starlink provides internet at the cost of $110 per month but Nibler says if Amazon can make its service’s price low enough, it will be a win for the company.

Billionaire’s space race

Jeff Bezos’ satellite internet project was revealed in 2019 and is expected to be launched in installments over 5 years.

On the other hand, Nibler says Elon Musk is on the top of the world.

“With Starlink he is so far ahead I doubt he is going to view Amazon as much of a competitor,” he says.

Nibler says Bezos attempts to come after Musk over anything space based have been no secret.

“They trade their barbs back and forth on Twitter which Musk now owns,” he says.

“He (Musk) is leagues ahead of everyone so he’s kind of sitting in driver’s seat right now.”

Musk’s Starlink is available to order and is said to be suited for rural and remote communities where connectivity is otherwise unreliable or unavailable.

Rijul Baath contributed to this report

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SpaceX to launch final Block 2 Starship soon

SpaceX set for final Block 2 Starship launch on October 13, testing booster reusability and new heat shield advancements

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SpaceX set for final Block 2 Starship launch on October 13, testing booster reusability and new heat shield advancements

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In Short:
– SpaceX will launch its advanced Starship test flight on October 13 from Starbase in Texas.
– The flight marks the first reuse of a Super Heavy booster and includes significant heat shield upgrades.
SpaceX plans to launch its advanced Starship test flight on Monday, October 13, at 6:15 p.m. CT from its Starbase facility in South Texas.
This 11th integrated flight marks the final mission for the Block 2 configuration before transitioning to the more powerful Block 3 variant.Banner

Flight 11 is historical as it will reuse a Super Heavy booster for the first time. Booster 15 will embark on its second flight, having previously completed Flight 8 in March. The booster is equipped with 24 flight-proven Raptor engines to showcase SpaceX’s rapid reusability focus.

Instead of a tower catch, Booster 15 will perform landing tests over the Gulf of Mexico. These data-gathering exercises, which evaluate various descent angles, are vital for future missions and enhance fuel efficiency. They also inform the design of Block 3 boosters, which will be reinforced for steeper descents.

Heat Shield

Significant heat shield upgrades have been made for Flight 11 following issues exposed during the last flight’s reentry. A new “crunch wrap” technique ensures tile security and edge protection. Executive Bill Gerstenmaier detailed that tiles will be mechanically held by a robot, enhancing reliability.

The heat shield is crucial for achieving full rocket reusability, which is essential for future missions to Mars.

SpaceX targets its first uncrewed Mars missions as early as 2026, contingent upon successful technological developments.

SpaceX conducts this flight under a $2.89 billion NASA contract for the Artemis program’s Human Landing System. NASA aims to utilize Starship for lunar missions, tentatively planned for 2027. Live coverage of the mission will commence 30 minutes before liftoff on SpaceX’s platforms.


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Global space investment reaches record $3.5 billion

Global space investment reaches record $3.5 billion in Q3 2025, nearly doubling from last year due to market diversification

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Global space investment reaches record $3.5 billion in Q3 2025, nearly doubling from last year due to market diversification

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In Short:
– Global space investment reached $3.5 billion in Q3 2025, nearly twice last year’s figure.
– Increased government spending and diverse startups are driving growth in the space sector.
Global space investment reached an unprecedented $3.5 billion in the third quarter of 2025, nearly double from $1.79 billion during the same period last year, as per a report by Seraphim Space.
The dramatic increase highlights a more diverse funding landscape where investments are distributed among a wider array of startups.”Historically, most of the capital in the sector was concentrated in just a couple of players, SpaceX and OneWeb,” stated Lucas Bishop, an investment associate at Seraphim Space.

“Now, we see a far more diverse set of investable companies, indicating space has evolved into a broader market.”

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The substantial growth in space investment is largely driven by heightened government spending to support domestic space initiatives in the United States, China, and Europe.

Defence expenditure has become the leading investment catalyst, with the U.S. Space Force projected to receive $40 billion for fiscal year 2026.

Major Funding

China’s Galactic Energy secured the largest funding round, attracting $336 million in September for its Pallas series of reusable launchers.

In the U.S., defence technology firms such as Hadrian, Apex, and Hermeus were at the forefront of major investments.

Public space enterprises have also witnessed significant growth, with Rocket Lab and Planet Labs more than doubling in value.

AST SpaceMobile’s stock surged 306% in 2025, boosted by partnerships with major telecom operators like Verizon and AT&T.

Momentum is expected to persist into 2026 as satellite networks expand, and government procurement increases, paving the way for dual-use technologies in civilian and defence sectors.


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Hollywood agencies criticise OpenAI’s Sora for exploitation

Hollywood agencies criticise OpenAI’s Sora for exploiting creators and infringing intellectual property rights amid rising concerns over AI usage

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Hollywood agencies criticise OpenAI’s Sora for exploiting creators and infringing intellectual property rights amid rising concerns over AI usage

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In Short:
– Top talent agencies, including CAA and UTA, oppose OpenAI’s Sora over client rights and copyright risks.
– Disney and others demand immediate action from OpenAI to address copyright infringements related to Sora.

Top Hollywood talent agencies have expressed strong opposition to OpenAI’s new video creation app, Sora. The Creative Artists Agency (CAA) voiced concerns about significant risks to their clients and intellectual property rights.CAA represents high-profile clients such as Doja Cat and Scarlett Johansson. The agency questioned OpenAI’s commitment to compensating creators for their work, suggesting that their practices might ignore global copyright principles.

They stated, “Control, permission for use, and compensation is a fundamental right of these workers.”

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United Talent Agency (UTA) echoed similar sentiments, labelling Sora’s actions as “exploitation, not innovation.” UTA reinforced that human talent is irreplaceable and affirmed its commitment to defending its clients’ rights. OpenAI has indicated it will implement measures to limit the generation of well-known characters and enhance control for rightsholders.

Industry Response

The memo from WME instructed agents to ensure that all clients are opted out of the latest Sora updates. Disney also took a firm stance, clarifying it had not granted OpenAI permission to use its copyrighted content.

The Motion Picture Association urged immediate action from OpenAI to address copyright infringements related to Sora.

Concerns over generative AI’s impact on copyright have surged within the entertainment industry.

Major companies like Universal and Disney have already pursued legal action against other AI firms over similar issues, highlighting a growing fear regarding the protection of intellectual property.


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