Satellite

Carr Not Receptive to Amazon’s Petition to Deny SpaceX Application

He posted on social media the company should focus on its own behind-schedule constellation.

Jake Neenan

Mar 11, 2026 — 2 min read

Photo of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr testifying at a House oversight hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 by Jose Luis Magana/AP

WASHINGTON, March 11, 2026 – Amazon is asking the Federal Communications Commission to deny SpaceX’s request to launch up to 1 million satellites in support of a space-based system of data centers. The head of the agency was not receptive to Amazon’s request.

“Amazon should focus on the fact that it will fall roughly 1,000 satellites short of meeting its upcoming deployment milestone, rather than spending their time and resources filing petitions against companies that are putting thousands of satellites in orbit,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr posted on X Wednesday.

He was referring to Amazon’s request last month for more time to hit interim milestones on its planned 3,232-satellite constellation. The company has about 212 satellites in orbit currently, and told the agency an unexpected “reengineering” and repeatedly delayed launch dates had put it behind schedule.