SpaceX accuses Amazon Leo of unauthorized satellite altitudes that create Starlink collision risks

SpaceX filed a letter with the FCC alleging that Amazon Leo launched satellites 50-90 km higher than its licensed altitude without amending its orbital debris mitigation plan, forcing Starlink satellites to perform 30 collision avoidance maneuvers within hours of Amazon's February 12, 2026, Ariane 6 launch. Amazon denied any violation, saying its altitudes comply with the “at or near 400 km” license flexibility and that SpaceX itself launched Amazon satellites into a similar 460 km insertion altitude as recently as July 2025, only raising objections after lowering its own Starlink constellation into the same altitude range. The dispute adds to growing tensions in low-Earth orbit, as SpaceX is simultaneously dealing with two recent Starlink satellite failures that created debris clouds tracked by radar firm LeoLabs, while also pushing to launch up to 1 million satellites for an orbital data center.