SpaceX Claims Amazon’s “Negligence” Nearly Caused Multiple Space Crashes

Image: SpaceX

SpaceX is accusing Amazon of putting other spacecraft at risk by dropping its Kuiper satellites into the wrong part of space.

In a letter sent to the Federal Communications Commission on April 1, SpaceX claimed that Amazon has been launching its satellites 50 to 90 kilometres higher than what was originally approved. According to the filing, Amazon and its launch partner Arianespace are ignoring their own orbital debris plans by placing satellites into crowded areas of low Earth orbit.

The dispute centres on a February 12 launch using an Ariane 6 rocket. SpaceX says the satellites were released at an altitude that created “unmitigable collision risks” for dozens of active spacecraft. The filing noted that Starlink satellites had to perform 30 emergency maneuvers in the hours following the launch just to avoid hitting the new Amazon hardware.

“Amazon’s and its launch partner Arianespace’s negligence needlessly and significantly increases risk to other operational systems and inhabited spacecraft,” wrote David Goldman, Vice President of Satellite Policy at SpaceX.

SpaceX argued that Amazon previously promised the FCC that its satellites would be deployed near an altitude of 400 kilometres. Instead, the company has reportedly launched eight times into orbits above 450 kilometres without getting permission for the change.
The letter claims that Amazon failed to provide accurate tracking data to help other companies move their satellites out of the way.

“Amazon and Ariane unilaterally increased the insertion altitudes for the February 12, 2026, launch with full knowledge that thousands of satellites are already operating at those altitudes,” Goldman stated in the letter.

SpaceX is now asking the FCC to make Amazon follow its original license before any “irreparable harm” occurs. This is not the first time the two companies have clashed over space safety, but it marks a significant escalation as Amazon ramps up its efforts to compete with the Starlink internet network.