Citing what it says are holes in the safety-related information in SpaceX's semiannual status report (see 2107060001), Viasat told the FCC International Bureau Monday that SpaceX needs to drill down more deeply on such issues as the number of conjunction events identified for Starlink satellites and difficulties encountered in collision avoidance. It said SpaceX failed to disclose its seeming intent to quit using in-orbit "screening" of satellites at very low orbits to ensure they're functioning before being raised to their operational orbits, though CEO Elon Musk said SpaceX will start injecting its Starlink satellites into their target orbits directly. SpaceX didn't comment Tuesday.
Tariff classification rulings
Certifying it completed its Phase I C-band accelerated clearing work, Eutelsat in docket 18-122 Tuesday asked for FCC validation of the certification and for the agency to direct the relocation payment clearinghouse to issue its accelerated relocation payment. It said it no longer provides any C-band downlink services to customers in the contiguous U.S.
Another 26 earth stations are involved in Eutelsat's portion of the C-band clearing than originally thought, it said Monday in docket 18-122, updating its transition plan. It said the changed list of earth stations reflects the FCC International Bureau's refinement of its list of eligible incumbent earth stations, Eutelsat outreach to earth station operators and coordination with other C-band satellite operators. The company said it's possible it might discover a small number of earth stations that need to be added to the list for the Phase II transition. It put its total relocation cost estimates at $8 million, up about $600,000 (see 2107080060), and cited changes in the number of antennae included in the transition plan and the necessary services to be provided for the earth stations. The bureau released a list of earth station antennas on the C-band incumbent list that are possibly inactive or not operational in the band. It said Monday the deadline is Dec. 27 for operators of those earth stations to inform the bureau they're operating in the band or be removed from the incumbent earth station list.
SpaceX, OneWeb, Telesat and Kepler petitions for reconsideration of the FCC FY 2021 regulatory fees order (see 2109170045) don't say anything new and their arguments were rejected in the August order, BlackSky Global said Friday in an opposition in docket 21-190.
SpaceX, when putting forth two different configurations for its proposed second-generation constellation, should have sought waiver of rules requiring applicants provide a complete, single-system proposal to the FCC for consideration, EchoStar/Hughes told the International Bureau Thursday. It said SpaceX also should have to explain how two configurations in a single application benefits the public interest. SpaceX didn't comment Friday.
Representatives of Amazon's Kuiper, meeting via teleconference with acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, urged a further NPRM on non-geostationary orbit fixed satellite service downlinks the 17 GHz band, said an International Bureau filing Thursday in docket 20-330. Doing so would up the throughput and capacity of next-generation broadband satellites and not disrupt incumbent users, Kuiper said.
Comments are due Oct. 25, replies Nov. 4, on Intelsat's request for assignment and transfer of control of authorizations as part of its reorganization under emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy (see 2108270001), said an FCC International Bureau public notice (docket 21-375) Friday.
Fixed satellite services need E-band access, and satellite services should be able to coexist with services to aircraft and terrestrial backhaul, SpaceX representatives said in a call with FCC International Bureau staffers, per a filing Wednesday.
Spaceflight’s next Sherpa mission is scheduled for launch between April 1 and May 15, it said in an FCC International Bureau application Wednesday for special temporary authority to operate its Sherpa-FX5. It said the mission, like past FCC-OK'd Sherpa missions, would see the Sherpa vehicle deploy up to eight small satellites for such clients as Lynk Global, HawkEye 360 and DOD.
Lynk Global signed its first commercial agreements, with the Bahamas' Aliv and Central African Republic's Telecel Centrafrique, to provide satellite-based mobile phone connectivity, it said Wednesday. It said its commercial service is to launch in 2022.