Can there be room for just one powerful technology entrepreneur in space?
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and the outspoken CEO of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Jeff Bezos of Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) each develops a network of satellite internet service providers.
Musk seems to believe that Bezos and Amazon are actively sabotaging SpaceX’s attempt, called Starlink. He wrote in a tweet to a CNBC reporter on Tuesday: “It does not serve the public to obstruct Starlink today for an Amazon satellite system that has been out of service for at most a few years.”
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SpaceX has asked the Federal Communications Commission to allow Starlink satellites to be moved to lower altitudes, arguing that it will reduce the delay and increase the space for space debris to orbit our atmosphere. But the bottom heights are close to where Amazon’s Kuiper satellites would operate, and the company is among the parties formally objecting to SpaceX’s request.
In response to Musk, an unknown Amazon spokesman said in a statement to CNBC: “The facts are simple. We designed the Kuiper system to prevent interference with Starlink, and now SpaceX wants to change the design of its system. “
“These changes not only create a more dangerous environment for collisions in space, but also increase radio interference for customers,” the spokesman added.
Of the two projects, Starlink has the lead. There are more than 1,000 satellites in orbit, providing service under a pilot program that costs $ 99 per month, in addition to a $ 499 fee for the package that contains the necessary hardware for service. Ultimately, Starlink aims to have about 12,000 satellites in orbit.
The Amazon project is not yet launched. Kuiper’s goal is to place 3,236 satellites in orbit for its service.