Four Starlink broadband satellites have failed since April 2, SpaceX told the FCC International Bureau Monday. Causes ranged from flight computer failure to a series of independent faults while deorbiting. It said responses include identifying sensitive components that were then removed from future designs. The reporting was a condition of a license modification (see 2104270027).
Myriota wants to amend its pending petition for U.S. market access (see 1911190002) to increase the planned number of non-voice non-geostationary (NVNG) mobile satellite service (MSS) satellites operating in the VHF band from 26 to 36. In an FCC International Bureau application Monday, Myriota said the amendment would also cover its use of Spire's CubeSat platform, which includes active propulsion capabilities, for those satellites. The company also asked to modify its U.S. market access grant to provide NVNG MSS service in the 399.9-400.05 MHz and 400.15-401 MHz bands to reflect such changes.
Viasat seeks FCC International Bureau OK for a series of 1.8-meter individually licensed earth stations to operate in the 17.7-18.3 GHz and 27.5-28.35 GHz band segments and communicate with its ViaSat-3 satellite network, it said in applications last week.
Viasat joined the Net Zero Space orbital debris mitigation initiative that was unveiled last month (see 2111120062), it said Monday. It said as part of its contribution to Net Zero goals, it crafted the main considerations for considering the aggregate risks associated with large low earth orbit constellations and for mitigating them.
SpaceX's second-generation constellation modification application requires both the FCC and other operators to analyze the impacts of multiple constellations, while operators would need to design constellations with less flexibility than if only one design is licensed, Hughes officials told International Bureau staffers per a post Thursday. It said rules are clear about needing to file a single, comprehensive proposal for review and urged the agency to either dismiss the application or require a revision and filing of a waiver of rules. SpaceX didn't comment Friday.
Amazon's planned 3,236-satellite Kuiper broadband constellation won't rely on mechanical release bands, breakaway mechanisms or mechanical cutaway devices when releasing from the launch rockets, cutting down on the possibility of orbital debris, the company told the FCC International Bureau in its orbital debris plan last week. The constellation's 2020 OK (see 2007310057) was conditioned on submission of the plan. Amazon said its analysis of different potential loss-of-control scenarios during deployment found that in each case the satellites would deorbit in less than 10 years due to atmospheric drag. It said it's using component design and shielding to protect components and help ensure the satellites can withstand impact by small debris and remain operable. Two Kuiper prototypes are scheduled for launch by Q4 2022 (see 2111010044).
Special purpose acquisition company dMY Technology completed its acquisition of Planet Labs (see 2107070001), the earth imaging satellite operator told the FCC International Bureau Wednesday. Planet Labs is going public via the SPAC deal.
Augmenting or backing up of GPS needs to be balanced with toughening GPS resiliency, said Bradford Parkinson, National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) advisory board first vice chair, at the board's meeting Thursday. He said government response to the growing threat of jamming and spoofing of GPS has been to focus on supplementing the GPS system with a terrestrial service, but there's no current or foreseeable alternative to global navigation satellite service that can deliver the same level of accuracy or global coverage. Possible toughening steps include use of multi-element digital beam forming and null steering antennas and inertial systems. He said the FAA should emphasize use of toughened GNSS receivers, particularly those using directional antennas. He said International Traffic in Arms Regulation antenna restrictions should be removed because they limit U.S. access to important commercial components. He said the advisory board should create a committee on toughening that would help identify burgeoning civil threats to GPS signals, plus mitigation steps and roadblocks to implementation. He said that committee could then make recommendations to the National Security Council.
A SpaceX petition to reconsider a license modification and a Kuiper license modification application "involve different parties, different issues, different procedural postures, and different evidentiary standards," SpaceX told the FCC International Bureau Tuesday, opposing a Hughes petition for consolidation of the two (see 2111230008). Both involve application of equivalent power flux density limit issues, but a combination "would likely cause confusion and tend to slow down progress toward resolution," SpaceX said.
Dish Network's complaint about supposed good-faith negotiation rules wrongly claims Tegna violations, and Dish's obsession with procedural rules can't hide that it hasn't addressed the charges Tegna brought up in its answer and cross-complaint (see 2111050028), Tegna said in docket 21-413 Tuesday. It said email correspondence it submitted to the FCC shows its transparency. Dish didn't comment.