Amazon, which operates a rival satellite telecoms operation to SpaceX’s Starlink, has not wasted time in making its objections known.<\/p>\n In a filing dated March 6<\/a>, Amazon Leo claims the application provides only the barest outline of how SpaceX will deliver on its \u201cgrand claims.\u201d SpaceX is seeking authority to operate a constellation of up to a million satellites in low Earth orbit, a remarkable number given that around 15,000 satellites in total are currently circling the planet.<\/p>\n Those grand claims include the assertion that this would be the first step towards becoming a Type II civilization on the Kardashev scale<\/a> \u2013 defined as one capable of using the entire energy output from its home star.<\/p>\n Amazon Leo argues the SpaceX application lacks basic details including satellite design, the radio frequency characteristics of the units, and “any plan for managing conjunctions or interference at million-satellite scale.”<\/p>\n In short, it says, the application seems to describe a lofty ambition rather than a real plan, and derides it as a “speculative placeholder rather than a complete application under the Commission’s rules.”<\/p>\n We asked SpaceX for comment.<\/p>\n Amazon Leo also raises concerns about satellite interference with astronomy and environmental objections to pollution from rocket launches and satellites burning up<\/a> as their orbits decay. These criticisms could also be leveled at Amazon itself.<\/p>\n Amazon founder Jeff Bezos predicted<\/a> at an event last year that gigawatt-scale datacenters powered by solar energy “will fill Earth’s orbit within two decades,” so this petition is plainly not motivated by environmental concern.<\/p>\n The company asks the FCC to deny the application as “facially incomplete” – an odd turn of phrase. Should the Commission choose to treat it as a serious proposal, however, Amazon begs regulators to “fully grapple” with the issues a deployment of this magnitude would raise, and to demand concrete technical details from SpaceX.<\/p>\n Amazon also warns that Musk’s firm is seeking authorization for “an orbital monopoly that will make it the gatekeeper to space,” which perhaps gives away the real concern here.<\/p>\n Analyst firm Gartner recently poured cold water<\/a> on the idea of putting datacenters in space, describing it as “peak insanity” because running spaceborne facilities would be uneconomical and could never satisfy terrestrial demand for compute power.<\/p>\n![\"Space](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/spacedebris.jpg\")
\nOrbital datacenters subject to launch stress, nasty space weather, and expensive house calls
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