Theongoing pissing matchbetween Jeff Bezos ’s Blue Origin and Elon Musk ’s SpaceX reached new levels of puniness on Wednesday with aletterfiled by Amazon to the Federal Communications Commission regarding the ways in which Muskplans to expandits growing artificial satellite internet .
“ Whether it is launching satellites with unlicensed feeler , launching garden rocket without approval , building an unapproved launch column , or re - unfold a factory in violation of a tax shelter - in - post ordering , the conduct of SpaceX and other Musk - led company makes their view plain stitch : rule are for other masses , ” the letter read . The doc was save by C. Andrew Keisner , the lead pleader for Amazon ’s Kuiper Systems subsidiary — alongtime rivalto Musk ’s ownStarlink task .
In the raceway to launch downhearted - orbit artificial satellite , Starlink is understandably in the lead . The companionship has already begun using its web of roughly 1,700 satellites to extend net connectivity totens of thousands of peopleacross the globe via Starlink’sbeta computer programme , while Kuiper ’s current plans are to set in motion its first satellitesin 2023 .
Photo: Mandel Ngan (Getty Images)
The driving force behind the current feud is that Starlink want to cast up even more satellite into orbit before Kuiper has even gotten its foot in the room access . Back in May 2020 , SpaceXappliedfor a permit with the FCC to establish another 30,000 satellites on top of the roughly 1,700 it currently has properly now . This past August , SpaceX amend its initial FCC marriage proposal , this time asking the Comission for permission to launch one of two distinct satellite form for its second - gen satellite organization , instead of the single set initially aim . Amazon objected not long after , tell the FCC that SpaceX ’s new proposal was “ at odds with both the commission ’s rules and public insurance policy . ”
Elon Musk being Elon Musk , reply with asnarky tweet , follow by SpaceX filingits own rebuttalwith the FCC last calendar week . The missive essentially called out Amazon ’s awful drug abuse of dominatingjust about everythingit tactile sensation , saying that Bezos ’s complaints were nothing but a “ continuation of crusade by the Amazon family of company to hinder competitors . ”
Smash cut to this calendar week ’s letter of the alphabet , where Amazon called SpaceX ’s reception an “ overheat response to an uncontroversial argumentation , ” adding that the company seemed to favour “ misinformation , ad hominem attacks , and a opinion that it can influence governor via social media ” instead of , well , stay on topic .
“ This way of life will take longer and inconvenience many , but is sure to lead to the same place , ” the letter reads . “ The plan of attack come from a playbook intimate to any regulator face with the unfortunate project of evenhandedly applying its rule to SpaceX : concede nothing , cut dominion wherever possible , and when all else fails , badmouth those that invoke them . ”
In a sight of elbow room , these say tactics might sound conversant to anyone who succeed thelegal troublesdogging Musk ’s fast - and - loose Twitter theatrical role — but coming from a company known forusing tax loophole , deploy anti - union maneuver , anddangerous working conditions , Amazon ’s disceptation sound more like asinine whining than anything else .
We ’ve reached out to Starlink and Kuiper for remark on the filing and will update here when we hear back .
chastisement : An original version of this post incorrectly posit that Starlink ’s current configuration included roughly 10,000 satellites in orbit , rather than 1,700 . We ’ve corrected the misplay , and have add together further item on Amazon ’s FCC complaint to elucidate that the ship’s company did not object to SpaceX ’s planet internet design in its totality , but specifically to the amendment SpaceX filed in August .
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