Loft Orbital hopes to have its YAM-7 microsatellite launched as soon as June, it said in an FCC Space Bureau application posted Monday. It asked the bureau for permission to launch and operate the satellite in low earth orbit, with the satellite carrying a payload for customer Hydrosat intended to provide earth exploration satellite services. Its YAM-6 is scheduled to launch March 1, it said.

The 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference was the scene of a number of clashes in the growing tension between geostationary and non-geostationary orbit operators, Disruptive Analysis' Dean Bubley wrote on LinkedIn Wednesday. The most important such clash was over proposed changes to equivalent power flux density limits, with NGSOs seeking changes losing that fight "although they may get another bite of the cherry in 2027 or 2031," he said. The clashes mean terrestrial mobile network operators "now have two groups to fight for future spectrum rights," he said. They also may hinder in the short term the scope of some supplemental coverage from space plans, he said. Bubley predicted relatively modest terrestrial/space integration and more satellite-only services.

Rocket Lab has launched its first 2024 mission for clients Spire Global and NorthStart Earth & Space. The New Zealand launch marks Rocket Lab's 43rd launch of its Electron rocket, and 176 total satellites deployed, it said Wednesday. The company said it has more launches scheduled in 2024 than any of its previous years but didn't give a specific number. Rocket Lab said the mission saw the successful return of the rocket's first stage after launch, as part of its plan to remake Electron into a reusable rocket.

SpaceX landed a potentially massive contract with John Deere in part because rival satellite operators don't have sufficient capacity online yet, Quilty Space blogged Thursday. John Deere announced last month it had selected SpaceX to provide connectivity to a projected hundreds of thousands of pieces of farm equipment. Quilty said also helping SpaceX's bid was that some satellite system operators would struggle to meet the regional demand requirements of both North America and Brazil with their current capacity. It said other heavy equipment manufacturers might not follow Deere's lead but instead stick with their current connectivity because Deere was likely able to get particularly advantageous pricing.

SpaceX likely saw revenues of $8.7 billion last year, and should hit $13.3 billion this year, Payload Research said Wednesday. It said that growth will likely be driven by Falcon 9 launches and Starlink's user base going from 2.2 million subscribers to 3.8 million. It said Starlink will likely add 600,000 U.S. subs this year, same as it did in 2023, while its international sub base will grow hugely, by 900,000, due to geographic expansion including an impending approval in India. It said SpaceX faces "a jam-packed schedule" for launches, with 148 targeted this year. It completed 96 launches in 2023.

Comments to the FCC are due March 4, replies April 1, on NTIA-proposed Table of Frequency Allocation footnotes about the use of spectrum by manned and unmanned spacecraft during missions, said a notice for Thursday's Federal Register. In addition, the FCC is seeking comment on spectrum allocations in specific bands for communications with cargo and crew capsules and payload communications with the International Space Station and other crewed space stations. Moreover, it seeks comment on expanded use of the 2360-2395 MHz band beyond launch vehicle "telemetry and telecommand operations."

Don't prematurely change equivalent power flux density rules or otherwise push for EPFD limit changes at the 2027 World Radioccommunication Conference, SES/O3b told the FCC Tuesday. In docket 16-185, it said SpaceX bullishness about possible EPFD changes being undertaken for non-geostationary orbit systems at WRC-27 (see 2312200046) misses that WRC-23 clearly decided only analysis would occur before WRC-27, with conclusions reported then.

EchoStar scuttled a plan for swapping billions of dollars in Dish Network debt due through 2026 for new notes (see 2401170012), it said Monday night. It provided no reason for the move.

SpaceX and Dish Network continue lobbing broadsides at one another on SpaceX's plans for limited supplemental coverage from space (SCS) service in the G-block spectrum. In a docket 23-135 filing Tuesday, SpaceX labeled Dish criticisms "baseless fearmongering" and part of its "standard fare of misdirection and misinformation." Dish has petitioned the FCC to reconsider its Space Bureau decision allowing SpaceX to conduct limited SCS operations over the G block (see 2401040005). SpaceX said while Dish attacks its out-of-band emissions, SpaceX operations have been proven to readily fall below the noise floor of adjacent band users. Dish said SpaceX's response to the petition (see 2401180061) reinforced rather than countered concerns about harmful interference to Dish's adjacent H-block operations and to mobile satellite service uplinks worldwide. Pointing to SpaceX statements that testing will show its SCS service won't cause interference, Dish said the need for "a bespoke test" as proof "demonstrates all by itself that the risk of interference is likely too high."

Skylo Technologies launched SMS-based texting capabilities on its satellite network, it said Monday. The capability lays the groundwork for a planned rollout of two-way voice calls and images on its network, it added.