Spire Seeks More Frequency Bands for Part of Its Lemur-2 Constellation

In the interim before it reaches its goal of a constellation of 900 cubesats put in orbit over 15 years (see 1511240022), Spire Global is asking the FCC International Bureau for approval to deploy up to 100 satellites in its Lemur-2 constellation next year. In an application amendment filed Monday, the maritime and meteorological monitoring and earth imaging services company said that interim step comes as the company has run into "complications in the completion of coordination for the frequencies" originally proposed for its Lemur-2 constellation. Monday's filing comes after the bureau in October approved Lemur-2's Phase I of up to 28 non-geostationary satellites, though it deferred action on Phase II and said that based on feedback from NTIA, future nonfederal satellite licenses using the 402-403 MHz band for downlinks would "only be exceptionally considered." It also didn't approve Spire using 402-403 MHz downlinks to four of its earth stations. In its application amendment, Spire said it was looking to add various downlinks and uplinks "to increase the flexibility it has to coordinate spectrum use with existing users." In Phase 1B, Spire said it wanted authorization to add 2200-2290 MHz and 401-402 MHz downlinks and 399.9-400.05 MHz uplinks to the frequencies allowed, as well as multiple receive-only frequencies. In Phase 1C, Spire said it also wanted authorization for addition of the 449.75-450.25 MHz uplink frequency. The company said it plans to launch its 100-satellite Lemur-2 constellation over the course of 16 separate launches in 2017, with each satellite having an operational lifetime of up to two years and an orbital lifetime of, at most, 12.8 years at the highest orbit sought, 600 kilometers.