Amazon has formally requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for an extension on a critical deadline concerning its ambitious satellite internet project. The company has asked for additional time to meet requirements for deploying approximately 1,600 internet satellites by July 2026, citing significant challenges in securing launch vehicles.
Extension Request Details
In a detailed letter submitted to the FCC, Amazon has specifically asked for an extension until July 30, 2028, to deploy half of its planned 3,232 satellites in low Earth orbit. The current regulatory deadline mandates that Amazon must have these satellites operational by July 30, 2026. This request comes as Amazon acknowledges it will miss the original timeline established in 2020 when the FCC initially approved what was then known as Project Kuiper.
Substantial Investments and Production Capacity
Amazon revealed it has already invested more than $10 billion in its Leo constellation and has secured reservations for over 100 launches to position satellites in their designated orbits. The company emphasized its impressive manufacturing capabilities, stating it has established state-of-the-art production facilities within the United States capable of manufacturing 30 satellites per week.
"Amazon Leo is now scaling fast," the company stated in its FCC filing. "It has established large and state-of-the-art production facilities within the U.S., which are capable of manufacturing 30 satellites per week."
Launch Capacity Challenges
Despite these substantial investments and production capabilities, Amazon faces significant hurdles in the availability of launch vehicles. The company described a "shortage in the near-term availability of launches" driven by multiple factors including manufacturing disruptions, the failure and grounding of new launch vehicles, and limitations in spaceport capacity.
Amazon has constructed what it claims is the largest rocket payload processing facility in the world - a massive 172,000-square-foot facility that can support up to three simultaneous launch campaigns from any major launch supplier. However, the company noted it has adjusted its satellite production rate to match its launch manifest and has built extensive storage facilities near manufacturing and launch sites to accommodate hundreds of already-built satellites awaiting deployment.
Support for American Launch Industry
The company highlighted its deliberate investment in next-generation American heavy-lift launch vehicles, supporting U.S. leadership in space and strengthening the domestic launch industrial base. Three of Amazon's four primary launch providers - Blue Origin, ULA, and SpaceX - are U.S.-based companies, and Amazon's contracts have helped fund development of cutting-edge vehicles including Blue Origin's New Glenn and ULA's Vulcan Centaur.
"Each provider has made significant progress," Amazon noted, pointing to New Glenn's successful orbital maiden flight in January 2025 and first booster landing in November 2025, along with Ariane 6's multiple successful launches in 2025 and Vulcan Centaur's demonstrated capabilities.
Current Deployment Status and Future Plans
Amazon revealed that development timelines for these next-generation vehicles have extended beyond initial projections, contributing directly to deployment delays. The company completed only 7 of the more than 20 launches originally scheduled for 2025 due to these challenges.
By the end of July, Amazon expects to have 700 satellites in orbit. "By this date, Amazon Leo also expects to have its customer terminals in the hands of more enterprise and government customers, and to be poised to roll out service more broadly in the U.S. and across the globe," the company stated.
Amazon insisted it remains committed to meeting the final FCC deadline to have all 3,232 planned satellites deployed by mid-2029. In its filing, the company suggested the agency could consider waiving the halfway-point deadline as an alternative to granting a formal extension, emphasizing that the delays are beyond Amazon's control despite substantial investments and infrastructure development.
