Launchers Seek 'One-Stop Shop' for Launch Coordination
Some of the launch spectrum streamlining that Congress seeks can be achieved by consolidating in one place post-license site and station registration, per-launch coordination, and final launch registration, said SpaceX, Blue Origin and Firefly Aerospace. In a docket 13-115 filing Friday, the launch providers said information today is scattered across the universal licensing system and the frequency coordination system. Consolidating coordination data "would provide a one-stop-shop for launch coordination." They also urged a five- to 10-day window before launch for launch service providers to be required to submit per-launch coordination details, rather than a longer requirement of submitting 60 or even 30 days before launch. They said the shorter window would align with current coordination practices among launch service providers.
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In its filing, the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council said requiring launch operators to make coordination requests to the third-party coordinator 80 days before launch "allows for an orderly process" of ensuring spectrum access for those launchers and also adequate protection of primary incumbent users. AFTRCC said that as there's more experience, then those time frames could potentially be shortened. Moving commercial space launch and reentry activity from one part of FCC rules to another "does not warrant a drastic change to coordination timelines as the new framework is being instituted," it said.