Amazon launches first two satellites in planned orbital internet service

Test satellites for Project Kuiper network, which will compete with Elon Musk's Starlink, launched on Friday afternoon

Amazon launched its first two prototype satellites into space on Friday, as Jeff Bezos' tech giant races to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX in building a mega-constellation of broadband internet-providing satellites.

The test satellites were set to launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral space force station during a two-hour window that opens at 2pm EDT (6pm GMT), and they blasted off smartly at the top of the time window.