Facebook's Test of Broadband Satellite Is 'Uncontrollably Spinning,' FCC Told

Facebook's PointView Tech low earth orbit broadband test satellite is "uncontrollably spinning," Universal Space Network (USN) said in an FCC International Bureau application Friday as it petitioned for a waiver of frequency coordination so it can provide emergency telemetry and telecommand support to the satellite launched Sept. 2. PointView received an Office of Engineering and Technology experimental license grant in 2019 for its E-band Athena satellite. USN said Athena has an orientation issue causing the spin, and without remediation, "the spacecraft will be lost." Facebook didn't comment Monday.