Amazon Seeks FCC Extension of Satellite Deadline, Lacks Rockets

Amazon.com Inc. asked the Federal Communications Commission for more time to meet a regulatory deadline to have more than 1,600 internet satellites in orbit by mid-2026, citing a shortage of rockets to launch them.

Amazon Leo, previously known as Project Kuiper, asked the commission Friday for a 24-month extension, to July 2028, to reach the halfway point of its constellation launch or a waiver of the midpoint deadline all together.

The company is facing circumstances outside of its control, including a “shortage in the near-term availability of launches.” It cited manufacturing disruptions, failure and groundings of new rockets, and limited ...