Jeff Bezos is one of the best-known names in the world, thanks to the 27 years he put in to transform Amazon from an internet bookseller into the retail behemoth it is today. Bezos has since stepped down from his CEO post and turned his attention to the stars.

A launch date is set for the first batch of what will be thousands of satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper as the company looks to play catchup to SpaceX and its Starlink internet

Amazon and United Launch Alliance set April 9 as the date for the first launch of full-scale satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper network.

Amazon is launching 27 satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) next week, kicking off its years-in-the-making plan to set up a massive constellation and deliver internet access anywhere on the globe – similar to SpaceX's Starlink service.

"No matter how the mission unfolds, this is just the start of our journey, and we have all the pieces in place to learn and adapt as we prepare to launch again and again over the coming years."

The first of 3,200 Project Kuiper satellites blast off next week.

Amazon announced it will launch more than two dozen satellites into space this month as part of its mission to provide internet service to customers.

Amazon is preparing to launch its first full batch of Project Kuiper satellites next week, marking a crucial milestone in the tech giant's bid to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink.

Project Kuiper will eventually be a constellation of 3,200 satellites. The first launch is planned for April 9.