Terra Bella Gets Telemetry Downlink OKs as NGSO Constellation Nears Launch

With four Terra Bella Technologies commercial remote-sensing satellites scheduled for launch Thursday, the company received FCC International Bureau OK for short-term modification of the telemetry downlink frequencies to be used while they're brought into service after launch. The bureau Wednesday approved the request to use 8374.5, 8374.75, 8375.25 and 8375.5 MHz for telemetry transmissions until routine communications links with SkySat-4, SkySat-5, SkySat-6 and SkySat-7 are established -- a period of perhaps two weeks, Terra Bella said. The bureau in August approved the former Skybox Imaging's application for authorization to operate a non-geostationary orbit earth exploration satellite service system with the launch of 13 additional satellites atop SkySat-1 and SkySat-2, already in orbit.