Amazon's first pair of prototype satellites for its planned Kuiper internet network have been launched into space from Florida, the company's first step before it deploys thousands more into orbit to beam internet service globally and compete with SpaceX's Starlink. A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket emblazoned with the Amazon logo lifted off from Cape Canaveral shortly after 2pm on Friday, carrying the two Kuiper test satellites, a long-awaited mission Amazon initially had intended to launch using different rockets. The mission aims to test Amazon's first pieces of technology in space as the e-commerce and web services giant looks to deploy 3236 more satellites in the next few years and offer broadband internet globally, a feat Elon Musk's SpaceX is targeting with its nearly 5000 Starlink satellites in orbit. In the days leading up to the launch, Amazon divulged few specifics about the two satellites, which were built at its satellite plant in Redmond, Washington. The launch live stream hosted by the United Launch Alliance, the Boeing-Lockheed joint venture, ended shortly after the rocket's lift-off without showing the deployment of the satellites. Amazon later said the two satellites were deployed and its mission operations centre had made contact with them. Amazon has vowed to invest $US10 billion ($A16 billion) into its Kuiper project, which was announced in 2019, the year SpaceX began deploying its first operational Starlink spacecraft. The US Federal Communications Commission is requiring Amazon to deploy half its planned satellite constellation by 2026. The market for broadband internet service from low-Earth orbiting satellites is viewed as being worth up to tens of billions of dollars in the next decade. To deploy the rest of the Kuiper network, Amazon last year announced a bulk launch deal for 83 launches - the largest commercial rocket procurement ever - from various rocket companies, including Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, ULA and Europe's Arianespace. Amazon and Bezos, its founder, are facing a shareholder lawsuit over that launch deal that accuses the company of failing to do proper due diligence and failing to consider potentially cheaper rockets from its rival SpaceX. SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 rocket has been central to Starlink's swift deployment. Australian Associated Press