SAT-MOD-20150802-00053 E S2912Grant of Authority Effective Date: 09/15/2016Modification 06/15/2016 - 02/28/2029Planet Labs Inc.Nature of Service: Earth Exploration Satellite ServiceOn September 15, 2016, the Satellite Division granted a previously deferred portion of the application of Planet Labs Inc. to modify itsauthorization to construct, deploy and operate a system of technically identical non-geostationary orbit Earth Exploration Satellite Service satellites. Policy Branch Information Actions Taken, Public Notice, DA 16-688, rel. June 17, 2016. Specifically, Planet Labs license was modified to permit, as part of its authorization to construct, deploy and operate up to 600 technically identical NGSO EESS satellites, the deployment and operation of fifty six satellites in a 450 x 720 km orbit. The satellites will transmit remote sensing and telemetry data to fixed earth stations in the 8025-8400 MHz (space-to-Earth) frequency band, receive command signals in the 2025-2110 MHz (Earth-to-space) frequency band, and may use the 401-402 MHz (space-to-earth) and 449.75-450.25 MHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands for early-phase and emergency-backup telemetry, tracking, and command operations, as well as for ranging and orbit determination on a non-emergency basis throughout the mission lifetime.
FCC finally issued the grant for SHERPA operation (pdf attached).Several conditions on the grant, such as not deploying unless they reach the correct orbit. No new payloads have been added, although eXCITe is carrying a small satellite called SeeMee that will deploy 3 weeks later. The grant notes that the individual payloads can't be integrated onto SHERPA until they have their own licensing in order.
Quote from: gongora on 10/26/2016 05:52 pmFCC finally issued the grant for SHERPA operation (pdf attached).Several conditions on the grant, such as not deploying unless they reach the correct orbit. No new payloads have been added, although eXCITe is carrying a small satellite called SeeMee that will deploy 3 weeks later. The grant notes that the individual payloads can't be integrated onto SHERPA until they have their own licensing in order.Could the FCC licensing process delay the launch, to allow most or all payloads to receive their licenses?Or cause payloads that fail to receive licensing by payload close-out time to be left on the ground?Who makes the operational decision?
SES-STA-20150824-00549 E Date Effective: 11/22/2016On November 22, 2016, Spaceflight Inc. was granted special temporary authority to operate a fixed earth station in North Pole, AK for 180 days, beginning November 23, 2016 to provide space operation communications to the SHERPA spacecraft as it deploys small spacecraft in low Earth orbit over the course of a twelve-hour operational period using the following center frequencies: 401.5 MHz (space-to-Earth) and 450.2 MHz (Earth-to-space).SES-STA-20150824-00550 E (same thing for fixed earth station in Tukwila, WA)SES-STA-20150824-00551 E (same thing for fixed earth station in Wallops Island, VA)
QuoteSES-STA-20150824-00549 E Date Effective: 11/22/2016On November 22, 2016, Spaceflight Inc. was granted special temporary authority to operate a fixed earth station in North Pole, AK for 180 days, beginning November 23, 2016 to provide space operation communications to the SHERPA spacecraft as it deploys small spacecraft in low Earth orbit over the course of a twelve-hour operational period using the following center frequencies: 401.5 MHz (space-to-Earth) and 450.2 MHz (Earth-to-space).SES-STA-20150824-00550 E (same thing for fixed earth station in Tukwila, WA)SES-STA-20150824-00551 E (same thing for fixed earth station in Wallops Island, VA)
presumably fairly close to @64.75367,-147.4382587 as North Pole is a suburb of Fairbanks and not that big of a place. https://www.google.com/maps/place/North+Pole,+AK+99705/@64.75367,-147.4382586
Quote from: Lar on 11/29/2016 08:50 pmpresumably fairly close to @64.75367,-147.4382587 as North Pole is a suburb of Fairbanks and not that big of a place. https://www.google.com/maps/place/North+Pole,+AK+99705/@64.75367,-147.4382586 it is a former military city, which became a public town due to the actions of the BRAC some years ago when one of the forts their was closed. I have family in Fairbanks, AK. It is also an important railroad town for the military and is where Alaska's protion of the DODX railcar fleet is kept.
http://www.sscspace.com/products-services/satellitemanagementservices/ground-network-prioranet-1/north-pole-satellite-station-4Maybe this, at 1487 Bradway Rd, North Pole, AK.
Planet Labs has now informed Spaceflight that it is withdrawing its payload of 56 satellites from the SHERPA launch. Although this was not anticipated, it will not lead Spaceflight to cancel the SHERPA mission. Instead of the originally planned 90 satellites to be deployed (counting the SeeMe satellite to be deployed three weeks later from the eXCITe spacecraft), Spaceflight will proceed with the previously identified 34 satellites when SpaceX resumes launch activity and informs Spaceflight of its launch window. Pursuant to Spaceflight’s standard mission planning processes, the Planet Labs satellites will be replaced with mass simulators, which will not be deployed into orbit, but will remain in the SHERPA.
On December 7, 2016, the Satellite Division reissued the special temporary authority granted to Spaceflight, Inc. on October 25, 2016. The authorization was revised pursuant to the filing by Spaceflight, Inc. on November 14, 2016, stating that 56 of the small spacecraft previously planned for deployment from the SHERPA spacecraft would no longer be deployed and would be replaced by mass simulators.
Nov. 14, 2016QuotePlanet Labs has now informed Spaceflight that it is withdrawing its payload of 56 satellites from the SHERPA launch. Although this was not anticipated, it will not lead Spaceflight to cancel the SHERPA mission. Instead of the originally planned 90 satellites to be deployed (counting the SeeMe satellite to be deployed three weeks later from the eXCITe spacecraft), Spaceflight will proceed with the previously identified 34 satellites when SpaceX resumes launch activity and informs Spaceflight of its launch window. Pursuant to Spaceflight’s standard mission planning processes, the Planet Labs satellites will be replaced with mass simulators, which will not be deployed into orbit, but will remain in the SHERPA.Dec. 7, 2016QuoteOn December 7, 2016, the Satellite Division reissued the special temporary authority granted to Spaceflight, Inc. on October 25, 2016. The authorization was revised pursuant to the filing by Spaceflight, Inc. on November 14, 2016, stating that 56 of the small spacecraft previously planned for deployment from the SHERPA spacecraft would no longer be deployed and would be replaced by mass simulators.Applicable documents can be found here
Any idea why Planet Labs pulled out? The launch delays?
Quote from: yokem55 on 12/11/2016 04:57 pmAny idea why Planet Labs pulled out? The launch delays?Orbital conflicts with Orbcomm
Quote from: gongora on 12/11/2016 04:30 pmNov. 14, 2016QuotePlanet Labs has now informed Spaceflight that it is withdrawing its payload of 56 satellites from the SHERPA launch. Although this was not anticipated, it will not lead Spaceflight to cancel the SHERPA mission. Instead of the originally planned 90 satellites to be deployed (counting the SeeMe satellite to be deployed three weeks later from the eXCITe spacecraft), Spaceflight will proceed with the previously identified 34 satellites when SpaceX resumes launch activity and informs Spaceflight of its launch window. Pursuant to Spaceflight’s standard mission planning processes, the Planet Labs satellites will be replaced with mass simulators, which will not be deployed into orbit, but will remain in the SHERPA.Dec. 7, 2016QuoteOn December 7, 2016, the Satellite Division reissued the special temporary authority granted to Spaceflight, Inc. on October 25, 2016. The authorization was revised pursuant to the filing by Spaceflight, Inc. on November 14, 2016, stating that 56 of the small spacecraft previously planned for deployment from the SHERPA spacecraft would no longer be deployed and would be replaced by mass simulators.Applicable documents can be found hereI suspect, the 56 Flock-2c cubesats will appear as the bulk of the 80-CubeSat payload of next years Indian PSLV launch with CardoSat-2D.
