Austin, Texas-based journalist Aria Alamalhodaei covers the space and defense industries for TechCrunch. She joined us to talk about that, plus her in-depth reporting on the upcoming launch event for Amazon’s Project Kuiper internet satellites. The guidance launch, scheduled for Wednesday at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, could result in protests entering undiscovered territory. At least that’s the plan on Tuesday, September 13, when a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 24 of those satellites.
The launch, designated KF-01, is set to begin within a 27-minute window that opens at 2:18 AM ET. Amazon books another big win as it sinks further into the fierce race to satellite internet. The company’s fundamental stated purpose is providing high-speed ubiquitous broadband access to the unserved.
In her article published on TechCrunch at 26 PM PDT on July 15, 2025, Alamalhodaei delves into the specifics of the mission. She emphasizes the importance of the launch for Amazon’s broader strategy to establish its presence in the rapidly evolving space industry. These smart satellites – and those that follow – will continue to inform what comes next in mobile and fixed satellite communications. In addition, they will markedly improve broadband services.
Alamalhodaei has an MA in art history from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. That spirit of curiosity and joy at discovery are two of the qualities she brings to her reporting. Her impressive academic background informs her incisive analysis of how technology intersects with and affects society. This background allows her to break down intricate information into clear, understandable formats for our audience.
The new partnership between Amazon and SpaceX marks a significant collaboration in the aerospace sector. By using SpaceX’s hard-earned expertise to get craft into orbit, Amazon will be in a better position to accelerate its ambitions with Project Kuiper. This initiative is about more than tech. Most importantly, it takes strong action to narrow the digital divide between urban, suburban, and rural, and rich and poor America.
