AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX are seeking FCC Space Bureau action on pending mobile supplemental coverage from space applications. With AST's planned launch in Q1 2024 of its first commercial satellites, the FCC needs to expedite approval of the company's pending V-band feeder link authority to facility gateway siting and licensing, company officials told Space Bureau staffers, per a filing posted Tuesday docket 23-65. It also urged putting its pending supplemental coverage from space application (see 2307180001) on public notice. SpaceX said in a filing posted Tuesday in docket 23-135 that it urged action on its pending SCS application (see 2302080001).
The FCC Space Bureau imposed some of the SpaceX-sought conditions in Iceye's proposed second tranche of satellites (see 2304260068). In an order in Friday's Daily Digest, the bureau required Iceye to report any loss of control of a second-tranche satellite at altitudes about 350 km -- an altitude where the satellites still should have maneuvering capability using propulsion. It also ordered Iceye to provide information on potential conjunction events, especially with respect to difficulties encountered in collision avoidance.
The FCC Space Bureau signed off on Odyssey SpaceWorks' non-geostationary orbit satellite mission scheduled for launch later this year (see 2306270012) and gave partial approval and partial deferral to Planet Labs' proposed license modification to its Pelican constellation (see 2204220001), said a notice in Friday's Daily Digest.
Under a Globalstar-SpaceX launch services agreement, SpaceX will handle the 2025 launch of the first set Globalstar satellites intended for replacement and life extension of its constellation (see 2308030042), Globalstar said in a SEC filing Thursday. Cost of the launch is $64 million, with Apple -- which is partnering with Globalstar on mobile supplemental coverage from space service for its iPhones -- covering 95% of the capital expenditures for the new satellites, including the launch costs, it said.
BIU has no right to assert control over or to claim it represents Spectrum Five, SF founder David Wilson said in docket 20-399 this week. Financier BIU claimed Wilson fraudulently dropped SF's complaint against Intelsat (see 2306280034). Wilson said that, as CEO and founder of SF, "the only person authorized to make these decisions was me." He denied any fraud or receiving compensation to drop the complaint. BIU counsel didn't comment Thursday.
KDDI will partner with SpaceX on providing mobile supplemental coverage from space (SCS) service starting as early as 2024, the Japanese telco said Wednesday. It said the SCS service, using SpaceX's Starlink satellites and KDDI wireless spectrum, will start with SMS texting and eventually expand to voice and data services. KDDI said almost all existing smartphones on its network will be compatible with the new service since it will use the devices' existing radio services.
Advanced Space's Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (Capstone) satellite has operated successfully for close to 10 months in orbit around the moon, Advanced blogged Wednesday. During that time, Capstone demonstrated spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation services that allow future spacecraft to determine their location relative to the moon without relying exclusively on tracking from Earth; and explored using one-way navigation through an onboard atomic clock, Advanced said.
Globalstar signed a perpetual licensing agreement with XCom Labs for exclusive access to some technologies and personnel, the Globalstar said Tuesday. The deal also sees XCom founder and CEO Paul Jacobs replace Dave Kagan, who's retiring, as Globastar CEO. Globalstar said the licensing agreement includes XComp, XCom’s commercially available coordinated multipoint radio system, and the company's peer-to-peer connectivity technologies that could have applications for cellular and satellite devices. Jacobs, who previously was Qualcomm CEO, said joining Globalstar's terrestrial spectrum and XCom's technology "creates a significant opportunity to deliver for private network customers with mission-critical needs."
SpaceX's Starlink Group 6-11 mission launch Saturday marked a milestone 100th FAA licensed space operation of launches and reentries so far this fiscal year, the agency said Monday. It said more are to be added before the year ends Sept. 30. SpaceX said FY 2022 saw 74 FAA-licensed commercial space operations in total.
Oppositions to a OneWeb reconsideration petition on the FCC's non-geostationary orbit spectrum sharing order are due Sept. 12, with replies to oppositions due Sept. 22, per a notice in Monday's Federal Register. The petition, filed last month, challenges the interference protection sunset provisions given first Ka-/Ku-band processing round applicants (see 2307210037).