The in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing NPRM on the FCC's February agenda (see 2401250068) gives the agency far too broad authority, SpaceX said Monday in docket 22-271. Recapping meetings held with all five commissioners' offices and the FCC Space Bureau, SpaceX said the draft NPRM provides no limiting principle for agency authority over orbital debris mitigation or the cost, reliability and safety of ISAM craft. The draft also proposes assessing planetary protection plans of all spacecraft, including non-ISAM vehicles, it said. "Such broad interpretations of the Commission’s statutory authority ... would needlessly test the bounds of the Commission’s jurisdiction," it said.
The FCC should urgently clarify the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference's intention about updating rules for equivalent power flux density limits, SpaceX said Friday in docket 16-185. That clarification would eliminate delaying updates "critical to connecting more people as soon as possible," it said. In addition, it said SES/O3b is mischaracterizing the text of the WRC-23 minutes in saying the ITU conference decided no regulatory action on EPFD limits can occur at WRC-27 (see 2401300032). Administrations clearly have the ability at WRC-27 of supporting EPFD rule changes after receiving ITU Radiocommunication Sector results of studying possible EPFD limit changes, it said.
Viasat, Terrestar, Ligado, Omnispace and Al Yah Satellite Communications have formed the Mobile Satellite Services Association, focused on supplemental coverage from space and the direct-to-device ecosystem. MSSA said it wants "to develop a global ecosystem utilizing over 100 MHz of L- and S-band spectrum already allocated and licensed for mobile satellite services," saying that spectrum is well-suited for integration into mobile devices. The new group said it plans to align with 3rd Generation Partnership Project standards for extending terrestrial mobile coverage for both mobile network operator and over-the-top services.
With the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference finished, Viasat told the FCC in docket 22-273 Friday that it has no objection to further FCC action on possible non-geostationary orbit operations in the 17 GHz band. The company had urged the commission to avoid acting on the band prior to WRC-23, as the ITU was evaluating the feasibility of NGSO fixed satellite service in the 17.3-17.7 GHz band segment in ITU Region 2 (see 2301250024).
Finnish hyperspectral satellite operator and analytics company Kuva Space is expanding, establishing its Kuva Space US subsidiary in Fairfax, Virginia, it said Wednesday. Its aim is broadening its market reach into U.S. commercial customers and the U.S. government.
Viasat's ViaSat-3 Flight 1 satellite is being configured for operations, and should begin providing commercial in-flight connectivity service in Q1 2025, CEO Mark Dankberg said Tuesday as the company announced Q3 2024 results. He said the company is adjusting the Flight 2 antenna to avoid the malfunction that struck Flight 1 (see 2307130003), with Flight 2 to be launched in the first half of next year. Flight-3 is set for launch late this year, he said. Dankberg said the Airbus-built Inmarsat 7, 8 and 9 satellites are expected to be finished early in 2026.
PlanetiQ hopes to launch GNOMES-5 by June, it said in an FCC Space Bureau application Monday seeking authorization to launch and operate the non-geostationary orbit satellite. The company said the S- and X-band GNOMES-5 is part of a larger plan for a constellation for weather forecasting, with its GNOMES-4 satellite currently orbiting and generating data.
Satellite operator Lynk Global's business combination with special purpose acquisition company Slam Corp. is expected in the second half of 2024, Slam said Monday. The deal will take Lynk public, with the two operating as Lynk Global Holdings, said Slam, established by former MLB star Alex Rodriguez and Antara Capital founder Himanshu Gulati. The transaction still needs approval of both companies' shareholders. It was announced in December (see 2312190004).
Eutelsat's 113 West A geostationary orbit satellite halted operations following a Jan. 31 anomaly, the company said Friday. Launched in 2006, the satellite was approaching its end of life, Eutelsat added. The satellite provided C- and Ku-band coverage in the Americas. Eutelsat said it's transferring capacity to other geostationary satellites.
Loft Orbital hopes to have its YAM-7 microsatellite launched as soon as June, it said in an FCC Space Bureau application posted Monday. It asked the bureau for permission to launch and operate the satellite in low earth orbit, with the satellite carrying a payload for customer Hydrosat intended to provide earth exploration satellite services. Its YAM-6 is scheduled to launch March 1, it said.