SpaceX claims that a recent satellite launch involving Amazon Leo created “collision risks.” But Amazon says the real problem is how so many Starlink satellites are moving to a lower orbit, overlapping with Leo’s deployment.
In a complaint filed Wednesday with the Federal Communications Commission, SpaceX alleged that Amazon has been deploying Leo satellites at about “50-90 km higher than authorized and without adequate coordination or information sharing.”
The 3-page filing claims that, across eight launches, Amazon has deployed its Leo satellites above 450 kilometers, even though it previously told the FCC that insertion would occur “at or near 400 km.” SpaceX specifically calls out the Feb. 12 launch of the Leo satellite using the French rocket provider Arianespace.
“Most recently, even with input from SpaceX, Amazon’s February 12, 2026, launch on Ariane 6 inserted its satellites at an altitude sufficiently high that it led to unmitigable collision risks with dozens of operational spacecraft,” the company claimed.
(Credit: Arianespace)
SpaceX argues that Leo satellites “significantly increased the risks to all satellite operations near the 480 km insertion altitude.” SpaceX has been lowering its Starlink satellites to that level.
“Amazon’s lack of deconfliction forced Starlink satellites alone to perform 30 collision avoidance maneuvers within hours immediately following the Ariane launch to avoid the newly deployed satellites,” the company added.
SpaceX’s complaint is a little surprising considering the company’s Falcon 9 rocket was used for three of the eight Leo satellite launches in July, August, and October. Still, the company’s letter seems mainly to take issue with Amazon and Arianespace, blasting them for “negligence” in deploying the satellites at a higher altitude.
“Amazon neither sought nor obtained approval for this change. Amazon must therefore swiftly ensure its launch plans comport with its authorization before it creates irreparable harm,” SpaceX told the commission.
But on Thursday, Amazon sent its own 3-page filing to the FCC, saying it had been transparent with the Commission about the satellite deployments through space safety reports.
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In addition, Amazon says it was surprised about the complaint, noting, “SpaceX itself has launched Amazon Leo’s commercial satellites into an insertion altitude of 460 km. SpaceX did not raise the issue during its first launch of Amazon Leo satellites in July 2025 to this altitude, nor during two subsequent launches into the same insertion altitude. Nor did Amazon Leo conceal the change in its insertion altitudes from the Commission.”
According to Amazon, the dispute stems from SpaceX lowering thousands of Starlink satellites to the 480km orbits, putting them closer to the Leo orbit insertions. “SpaceX only began raising the issues described in its letter within the last several months,” the filing notes.
Amazon says it’s been “attempting to work with SpaceX to find mutually acceptable solutions,” while stressing the company’s commitment to space safety. But allegedly, SpaceX shot down Amazon’s effort.
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“When it became clear that changing near-term Ariane launch parameters would cause multi-month delays, Amazon Leo proposed a solution that would maintain Amazon Leo’s deployment schedule while still addressing SpaceX’s concerns. SpaceX declined this proposal and has not proposed alternative solutions,” the filing says. “Even so, Amazon Leo has made significant operational changes in response to SpaceX’s concerns.”
Still, Amazon told the FCC that making such changes takes time. “Launch vehicle providers generally require at least months—and typically one year—to retarget insertion altitude due to the complexity of final mission analysis, which encompasses trajectory analysis, coupled loads analysis, and integrated thermal analysis,” the filing adds.
The regulatory spat occurs when Elon Musk’s company has also opposed the FCC granting Amazon Leo a crucial extension to deploy 1,600 satellites by the end of July, a deadline Amazon has said it will miss.
Currently, Leo consists of 200+ satellites, while Starlink now spans a staggering 10,000+ active satellites. In December, a satellite deployed from a Chinese rocket also risked colliding with a Starlink sat, prompting SpaceX to call for better coordination in the aerospace industry.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with Amazon’s FCC filing.
About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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