Planet Labs Seeks Temporary Telemetry Transmissions for Twin Satellites

With its two remote sensing satellites, SkySat-14 and SkySat-15, due to launch Sept. 30, Planet Labs wants approval for 180 days to use 8374.75 MHz and 8375.25 MHz for telemetry transmissions, it said in an FCC International Bureau special temporary authority application posted Wednesday. Without the approval, the two satellites -- to be released in a tight cluster -- would be indistinguishable from one another by earth stations for the first few days on orbit. It said within 60 days, the satellite orbits will have diverged enough that the two will be distinguishable and both will transmit from 8375 MHz.