https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/fee.2624

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Abstract

The freedom of access to outer space has resulted in an exponential increase of objects located in Earth’s orbits. In the coming decade, up to 100,000 satellites in large constellations could be added to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) alone. These new activities require coordination with preexisting ones and consideration of the balance between the different interests at stake. This article addresses satellite constellations’ impact on astronomy and explores solutions to ensure that the development of both are coordinated and harmful interference is minimized. The research analyses former and recent international collaboration efforts to protect astronomy. The authors examine the international legal framework, evaluating the opportunity to consider astronomical observations as space activities, even when ground-based, and present the regulatory consequences of this interpretation, proposing the provision of information to the UN of the aforementioned activities through the mechanism of Article XI Outer Space Treaty (OST) and the protection of such activities through the consultation mechanisms of Article IX OST. Through the combined use of these articles and in compliance with the rules provided for by international space law, it should be possible to protect astronomy by coordinating with legitimate satellite constellations operations.

https://kluwerlawonline.com/journalarticle/Air+and+Space+Law/46.4/AILA2021031

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ITU News interview Julie Zoller, who oversees the key regulatory affairs portfolio for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which aims to launch a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites to provide low-latency, high-quality broadband connectivity worldwide. She previously served as chief government affairs officer at Omnispace, and in tech-related policy roles at the US State Department, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and at the US Department of Defense.

Snippet:

To deliver service, we’re building a constellation of 3236 satellites that will operate between 590 kilometres and 630 kilo‑metres in altitude. Operating in low Earth orbit (LEO) has the dual benefit of lower latency and shorter de-orbit times, which is good for customers and space safety.

Describe your typical day as Head of Global Regulatory Affairs.

In a typical day, I’ll have a staff meeting or attend a review, meet with my team to advance a particular regulatory matter, spend some time in one‑on‑one conversations with staff members, and read regulatory documents. Last July, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized us to deploy and operate the Kuiper NGSO (non-geostationary) system.

Getting our license was a major milestone, but we still have lots of work to do. We engage regularly in rule makings, and we’re currently conducting technical studies in preparation for the 2023 ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC‑23).

Article https://www.itu.int/en/myitu/News/2021/06/30/07/56/Satellites-connect-the-unconnected-Julie-Zoller

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by Andrew Jones — April 21, 2021

HELSINKI — China is to oversee the construction and operation of a national satellite internet megaconstellation through coordinating the country’s major space actors. 

Recent comments by senior officials indicate that plans are moving ahead to alter earlier constellation plans by space sector state-owned enterprises and possibly make these part of a larger “Guowang” or “national network” satellite internet project. 

Spectrum allocation filings submitted to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) by China in September last year revealed plans to construct two similarly named “GW” low Earth orbit constellations totaling 12,992 satellites. 

The filings indicate plans for GW to consist of sub-constellations ranging from 500-1,145 kilometers in altitude with inclinations between 30-85 degrees. The satellites would operate across a range of frequency bands.

Read more at: https://spacenews.com/china-is-developing-plans-for-a-13000-satellite-communications-megaconstellation/

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Bloomberg Businessweek

September 17, 2020

By Thomas Pfeiffer and Thomas Seal

Every few years, someone comes along promising to disrupt the satellite industry. They burn through billions in cash before ambition crashes back down to Earth. Since the late 1990s, Globalstar, Iridium, Leosat, Skybridge, Teledesic, and other companies have attempted to rewrite space communications, only to collapse or shrink into a niche that poses little threat to the incumbents.

Now comes Elon Musk. After overturning the economics of the car and the rocket-launch industries, the billionaire is taking a hatchet to another fraying business model—space communications—by filling the skies with thousands of satellites that beam internet to isolated populations. His Space Exploration Technologies Corp. sent up the first Starlink satellites in May 2019, and as of early this month it had deployed almost 700, single-handedly increasing the number of active satellites in orbit by almost a third.

Broadband from space already exists, but it relies on geostationary satellites that orbit more than 22,200 miles from Earth, making the connections too slow to compete effectively with new applications on terrestrial networks. By contrast, Musk’s are at an altitude of 340 miles, putting his system at a potential speed advantage over the fastest undersea fiber networks.

Snippet

But a long list of past failures underscores the challenge. Low-Earth orbit, or LEO, satellites need to zip around the world at about 5 miles per second to maintain a constant altitude. To ensure a reliable internet service, a ground receiver must hop constantly from one satellite signal to another without dropping the two-way connection. It’s like playing soccer with 12 balls on the pitch. And no one has found a way to make such a sophisticated piece of new technology and turn a profit in the mass consumer market.

“There still is real uncertainty with regard to the future of these systems,” says Carissa Christensen, chief executive officer of analytics company Bryce Space & Technology. SpaceX has “an extraordinary track record of delivering technology breakthroughs,” she says, but less expertise in consumer retail markets and telecommunications. SpaceX didn’t respond to emails seeking comment.

Read the complete article at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-17/elon-musk-s-starlink-wants-to-beam-broadband-internet-from-40-000-satellites#:~:text=Elon%20Musk’s%20Next%20Big%20Thing,so%20many%20others%20have%20failed.&text=Sixty%20Starlink%20satellites%20as%20seen,%2C%20Russia%2C%20on%20April%2027.

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