Amazon Seeks LEOP Operations Authority for Kuiper

Amazon asked the FCC to amend the agency's 2020 authorization of the Kuiper constellation to include authority for the company to do launch and early orbit phase (LEOP) and deorbit operations. In a Space Bureau application Tuesday, Amazon said starting communications payload testing at insertion altitude and concurrently with orbit raising maneuvers during LEOP would enable it to better assess the health of the satellites and their payloads.