Bezos vs. Musk space race heats up with satellite deals and launches

Amazon agreed to acquire Globalstar for about $11 billion, while SpaceX continues frequent launches and extensive Starlink deployment.

Amazon announced an agreement to acquire satellite operator Globalstar for roughly $11 billion as it builds a large broadband and cellphone-to-satellite network. Blue Origin is preparing additional New Glenn activity and has shifted resources toward lunar lander work. SpaceX maintains a high launch cadence with Falcon 9 and is preparing a new Starship test. NASA's Artemis program and planned mid-2027 lander evaluations have focused attention on both companies' lunar plans. Key developments: - Amazon reached a roughly $11 billion deal to acquire Globalstar, which operates satellites used for cellphone-to-satellite links and has been tied to an Apple partnership noted in the article. - Blue Origin's New Glenn has flown and largely met its mission goal; another New Glenn launch may occur soon carrying an AST SpaceMobile satellite, and the company reported a hardware explosion at a Florida test site that it said did not affect launch plans. - SpaceX conducts frequent Falcon 9 launches and has deployed about 10,000 Starlink satellites, while preparing a new Starship test expected in May according to the article. - Both companies are advancing plans for large satellite constellations and orbital data-center concepts, with filings described in the article for up to one million data-center satellites by SpaceX and nearly 52,000 AI-capable satellites by Blue Origin. - NASA's recent Artemis II mission raised momentum for a crewed lunar landing planned for 2028, and the agency plans mid-2027 tests of one or both companies' landers as part of Artemis III. Summary: Commercial and government programs are concentrating competition around satellite services, launch cadence, and lunar landers. Near-term milestones cited in the article include additional New Glenn and Starship test flights and NASA's planned mid-2027 lander evaluations. Further outcomes and timelines will unfold as those tests and regulatory filings proceed.