SpaceX Protestations Not Satisfying Collision-Avoidance, Interference Worries, Intelsat Says

SpaceX continues to fail to assuage interference and collision-avoidance issues as it seeks FCC approval for its experimental satellite system, Intelsat said in an Office of Engineering and Technology filing submitted Monday. Intelsat and SpaceX repeatedly have clashed over SpaceX plans to launch test satellites in advance of a low Earth orbit constellation providing a global broadband service, with SpaceX accusing Intelsat of fishing for proprietary information (see 1507310040). Intelsat said Monday that its request for more information "was not frivolous," and argued SpaceX is incorrect when it says it has provided sufficient detail regarding interference and collision issues. "The company's continued reluctance to demonstrate compliance with all relevant FCC requirements makes it impossible for co-frequency systems, such as Intelsat, to assess interference potential," Intelsat said. That no one from SpaceX has talked to Intelsat's technical or launch team to designate a point person is a clear-cut violation of obligations under collision-avoidance rules, Intelsat said.