NASA is conducting a visiting vehicle study with SpaceX, looking at the potential impact of SpaceX's second-generation constellation on International Space Station operations. In a letter posted Tuesday in docket 23-135, NASA said one aim of the study is ensuring "an appropriate and informed number of satellites are allowed to operate" in orbital shells below the ISS. SpaceX is seeking authority to operate below the ISS (see 2406210006). NASA said it and SpaceX "will continue to collaborate closely to finalize operational guidelines and establish comprehensive safety protocols" involving vehicles traveling to and from the ISS. Given that cooperation, NASA said it supports the FCC letting SpaceX operate up to 400 satellites in the orbital shells below the ISS. It said after the visiting vehicle study is done, it would coordinate any change to that number.
The largest piece of debris from Russia's 2021 destructive anti-satellite test (see 2111160063) reentered the atmosphere Sunday over the Arctic, astronomer Jonathan McDowell posted on X. Most of the 2,000+ pieces of debris from the test also have reentered the atmosphere since the test, he said.
Gulfstream has received FAA supplemental type certification to install SpaceX's Starlink internet on its G650 and G650ER aircraft, the jet manufacturer said Monday. It said it's pursuing similar certifications for a variety of its other models.
AstroForge has become the first company to receive an FCC spectrum license for a commercial mission into deep space, it posted Monday on X. "We're excited to lead the charge in deep space exploration," the space mining company said. "With the FCC’s authorization, we are now full steam ahead," the company said. The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology experimental license was granted Oct. 18. AstroForge said its Odin craft will go on a two-year mission to conduct a fly-by of target asteroids and take high-resolution images to analyze the surface for docking sites in future missions. AstroForge craft will operate in the S band.
Eutelsat/OneWeb continues urging conditions on an SES purchase of Intelsat. In docket 24-267 reply comments posted Monday, it reiterated its argument (see 2410010018) that New SES' control of C-band channels in the U.S., and the importance of that spectrum for content distribution, necessitates considering whether conditions are needed to address those competitive impacts. Eutelsat/OneWeb didn't state specific conditions. SES and Intelsat, in comments also posted Monday, said C-band marketplace concerns, such as those that NAB voiced (see 2410160018), are "unfounded" because of the "fierce competition" New SES would face from fiber, internet-based streaming and other technologies.
The FAA licensed 148 space launches and reentries in FY 2024, compared to 113 in FY 2023, the agency said in an email Friday. "It was another safe and impressive year for the FAA and commercial space operators," it noted.
SpaceX and Amazon proposals for unavailability limits would make it impossible for non-geostationary orbit fixed satellite service operators to meet the high-availability requirements of public safety and government customers, Eutelsat/OneWeb said Thursday in docket 21-456. Recapping a meeting with FCC Space Bureau staffers in docket 21-456, Eutelsat/OneWeb said the limits SpaceX and Amazon's Kuiper are pushing are so relaxed that instead of coordination, operators will instead file technical compatibility studies that take up substantial FCC resources. Eutelsat/OneWeb discussed its support of O3b's rival proposal.
The U.S. needs to end years of debates about space regulatory reforms in favor of making decisions about issues such as who has mission authorization, according to Aerospace Corp. In a series of space policy papers Thursday, it also said the next presidential administration must make several space spectrum choices early in its term. Space spectrum matters that will demand attention, it said, include spectrum for lunar surface and lunar orbit communications and inter-satellite links from geostationary orbit to other orbits. It said there's a need for multi-orbit, multi-mission capable commercial terminals across various satellite constellations that will support the need for greater connectivity in the Arctic.
No perfect formula exists that addresses interference between non-geostationary orbit systems and so none will receive universal industry support, Telesat said Tuesday in docket 21-456. It said there's consensus on most issues in the proceeding, including use of a degraded throughput methodology to assess interference between NGSO systems. Telesat backed SpaceX's approach and argued against needing a Further NPRM, as O3b sought, aimed at getting input on rival interference protection proposals (see 2410150045).
Intelsat's Intelsat 33e satellite is "a total loss" due to an anomaly that occurred Saturday, the company said Monday. Migration of customers and service restoration plans are underway across Intelsat's other satellites and third-party satellites, it added. The company is coordinating with Boeing, the 33e manufacturer, and government agencies to analyze data and observations. A failure review board was convened to investigate the anomaly's cause. The geostationary satellite launched in August 2016 and served Europe, Africa and parts of Asia-Pacific. U.S. Space Force said it's tracking nearly 20 pieces of 33e, and that the debris poses no immediate threat.