SpaceX files complaint against Amazon over satellite orbit dispute

SpaceX has filed a complaint with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against Amazon over the orbital deployment of its Amazon LEO satellites, according to European Spaceflight.

In the April 1 filing, SpaceX noted that in February, 32 Amazon LEO satellites were launched by Arianespace’s Ariane 64 rocket into a higher low-Earth orbit than authorized by regulators.

According to SpaceX, Amazon and Arianespace violated approved plans to reduce space debris and breached licensing conditions by deploying satellites at altitudes 50 to 90 kilometers above the permitted 400 kilometers without proper coordination or information sharing.

Amazon responded on April 2, calling the complaint “surprising,” noting that SpaceX itself had deployed Amazon LEO satellites at an altitude of 460 kilometers during three separate Falcon 9 missions in 2025 and “did not raise” this issue at the time.

By Jeyhun Aghazada