I wonder if AST has launch contracts for their first 20 satellites?
AST plans to launch the satellites into orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers — or almost twice as high as the International Space Station’s orbit. Avellan declined to name any rocket companies that AST has contracts with, instead describing launch as a buyer’s market. AST’s investor presentation named Elon Musk’s SpaceX, European ArianeGroup, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Russian GK Launch and Indian PSLV as potential launch providers.
Quote from: Danderman on 12/25/2020 09:36 amI wonder if AST has launch contracts for their first 20 satellites?From the CNBC article:QuoteAST plans to launch the satellites into orbit at an altitude of 700 kilometers — or almost twice as high as the International Space Station’s orbit. Avellan declined to name any rocket companies that AST has contracts with, instead describing launch as a buyer’s market. AST’s investor presentation named Elon Musk’s SpaceX, European ArianeGroup, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Russian GK Launch and Indian PSLV as potential launch providers.
A recent SEC filing concerning AST:https://sec.report/Document/0001213900-20-044208/prem14a2020_newprovid.htm
Image from the video.
Note that Starlink faced a similar issue, and chose a deployable array, which is what is causing the problems for astronomers. AST arrays won’t face the Earth, which is good for astronomy.
But the greater problem is that rather than seek a license directly from the FCC for their enormous satellites, AST & Science got a license for its system from Papua New Guinea (PNG). This is more than a “flag of convenience” situation, however, as PNG has signed neither the 1971 Liability Convention nor the 1974 Registration Convention. While PNG has signed the 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST), those latter two treaties are what put actual “meat on the bone” of the OST. Choosing not to sign these leaves PNG outside of the sphere of countries which have agreed to both norms of governance and resolution procedures for outer space disputes.In short, PNG has not stepped up to accept specific international responsibility or liability for the activities of commercial entities it has licensed. Under the Liability Convention, countries agree to be liable for any damages caused in space “due to its fault or the fault of persons for whom it is responsible.” AST & Science recently admitted to the FCC that PNG has not “acceded” to the Registration Convention but claimed that PNG would voluntarily register the constellation. This narrative brushes over the fact that voluntarily registering the constellation, which PNG has only done once previously, isn’t the same as taking legal responsibility for it.
Quote from: Danderman on 06/19/2021 06:01 amNote that Starlink faced a similar issue, and chose a deployable array, which is what is causing the problems for astronomers. AST arrays won’t face the Earth, which is good for astronomy.The side of the SpaceMobile sats that faces Earth will still reflect light, and these things are huge.
Op-Ed | Who wants to step up to a $10 billion risk?
Quote from: su27k on 06/27/2021 02:33 amOp-Ed | Who wants to step up to a $10 billion risk?Can anyone shed more light on the status of this issue? Looking at the FCC filing https://www.fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-APL-20201028-00126 which was filed 2020-10-28, has a status of "Action Taken Public Notice". I have read each of the petitions and SpaceMobile's response. However, I cannot tell if the FCC has approved this or not. Given the SpaceNews article is dated 2021-06-25 can we assume there has not been approval? I do see that the other Experimental License are currently pending perhaps that is what the author is referring to?
