Technologies

Amazon Sets Launch Date for Project Kuiper’s Deployment of 27 Satellites

The United Launch Alliance rocket is set to help Amazon take a step toward a satellite internet service that would likely compete with Starlink.

Amazon has set a launch date to send 27 low-orbit satellites into space as part of Project Kuiper. The company posted details announcing a launch at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 9.

The launch could be a big move for the project, which Amazon launched with promises of a $10 billion investment in 2019. Now, the company is poised to enter the race to provide satellite internet service, a space currently dominated by Starlink, which has about 7,000 satellites. Amazon’s current plans call for 3,200 satellites deployed over 80 launches. Amazon said it plans to begin providing internet service with this technology later this year.

The launch mission, «KA-01» or Kuiper Atlas 1, will be on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and will take place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Amazon said. The company set up a mission page for updates on the launch and plans to livestream the takeoff.

Competition may bring more widespread internet service

The literal space race, which includes Starlink, Amazon, and other companies including Viasat, HughesNet, Eutelsat, and China’s SpaceSail, could mean more availability of internet service in far-flung and rural areas that have limited broadband options. Though Starlink is the current leader in the space, some of these other companies are continuing to launch satellites and working to deploy high-speed internet in more markets such as Brazil. With more players in the market that could mean faster and cheaper internet in more areas, although whether that actually bears out for consumers remains to be seen.

Mahdi Eslaminehr, executive vice president at Quandary Peak Research and adjunct professor at the Department of Computer Science at USC, said Amazon is well poised to go up against Starlink. «Amazon has made extensive launch agreements with major providers such as United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, Blue Origin and even SpaceX itself, positioning Kuiper as a major challenger due to its expansive infrastructure and significant resources.»

He said, «While Starlink currently enjoys clear market leadership, it faces increasing competition from well-capitalized and strategically agile competitors, specifically from China, suggesting the market will become considerably more competitive in the near future.»

Amazon’s satellite efforts so far, Eslaminehr said, have been promising and successful, at least in the prototype stages. The company has also been testing Amazon Web Services in space. «These developments collectively underscore Amazon’s robust entry into the satellite internet market and reflect positive early momentum in its overall space strategy.»

Beyond how it fares against Starlink and other companies, the Amazon satellite launches are significant in other ways. Eslaminehr said, «Project Kuiper isn’t just about competition; it’s positioned as a critical step toward closing the global digital divide, promising to deliver high-speed internet to underserved communities worldwide.»

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Monday, July 28

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for July 28.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

I love to grill, but the answer to 5-Down was a little challenging for me. It’s legit, but it’s just not the way I typically use that word. That’s on me! Need a helping hand with today’s Mini Crossword? Keep reading. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Courtroom prosecutors, for short
Answer: DAS

4A clue: Fails to mention
Answer: OMITS

7A clue: Finished the season on a hot streak
Answer: WONOUT

9A clue: Subtle distinction
Answer: NUANCE

10A clue: See 1-Down
Answer: RIGHT

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: With 10-Across, completely and utterly
Answer: DOWN

2D clue: Love, in French
Answer: AMOUR

3D clue: Mount where Moses received the Ten Commandments
Answer: SINAI

5D clue: Grab from the grill with a gripper
Answer: TONG

6D clue: «There’s no ___ thing!»
Answer: SUCH

8D clue: Vietnamese New Year
Answer: TET

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for July 28, #778

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for July 28, #778.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle features another movie category, so cinema fans, dig in. Need more help? Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group, to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Out front.

Green group hint: It suggests something.

Blue group hint: A hobby.

Purple group hint: Cinema genres.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Foremost.

Green group: Indication.

Blue group: Item in a collection.

Purple group: ____ movie.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is foremost. The four answers are first, initial, original and primary.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is indication. The four answers are evidence, hint, sign and trace.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is item in a collection. The four answers are coin, comic, record and stamp.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ movie. The four answers are buddy, cult, date and silent.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for July 28, #308

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for July 28, No. 308.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

I learned enough during gym-class track days to ace today’s Connections: Sports Edition green category. Need an assist with the game today? Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: These players win championships.

Green group hint: Team effort.

Blue group hint: Sobriquet.

Purple group hint: On the diamond.