The growing number of satellites in orbit and increasing orbital debris make tracking satellites, identifying threats, and predicting and preventing collisions more difficult, the Defense Intelligence Agency said Monday. DIA said the U.S. advantage in space, plus perceived dependence on it, will drive rivals including Russia, China, North Korea and Iran to improve their space capabilities, which could threaten commercial, military and civil space-based services.

Satellite interests are backing the FCC NPRM proposing to let earth stations in motion (ESIM) communicate with non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites operating in the fixed satellite service -- with caveats. EchoStar/Hughes in docket 18-315 comments posted Monday said ESIM operations in Ku- and Ka-bands on a secondary basis should be paired with interference protections of geostationary orbit (GSO) FSS operations via equivalent power-flux density limits and control of ESIM terminals by a network control center that can disable operations during harmful interference to GSO. It said the FCC should require ending or reducing ESIM emissions to prevent harmful interference. Kymeta said existing licensees holding blanket authority for ESIMs to communicate with GSO satellite systems should be allowed to file streamlined modification applications to add blanket authority to communicate with non-geostationary satellite systems in the relevant Ku- or Ka-band. The National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Radio Frequencies said approvals of ESIM operations should be paired with protections for radio astronomy service in adjacent or overlapping bands. Replies are due March 13. Commissioners approved the NPRM in November (see 1811150028).

With an application for a non-geostationary orbit constellation of 150 satellites (see here) pending before the FCC International Bureau, Swarm Technologies CEO Sara Spangelo met Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mike O'Rielly and with aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioner Geoffrey Starks about company plans, it said, including posted Monday in docket 18-313 (see here, here, here and here). Swarm's constellation would orbit at 400-550 kilometers and use VHF band frequencies to provide data services, the company said. The company previously received OK for some cubesats (see 1810040057) and was fined for unauthorized launch of others (see 1812210004).

Intelsat and Northrup Grumman subsidiary Space Logistics want FCC International Bureau OK for a satellite servicing mission that would have Intelsat 901 and MEV-1 docking and then redeploying. In bureau applications Thursday (see here and here), they asked for approval to raise Intelsat 901 -- currently at 29.5 degrees west -- 300 kilometers above geostationary arc, and then to redeploy with MEV-1 attached at 27.5 degrees west. Intelsat said Northrup's MEV-1 launch is set for the first half of this year. Northrup said that once the life-extension mission of the satellite is complete, the two would move to 150 kilometers above geostationary orbit and then unlock.

JPMorgan Chase's character is solid enough for it to own shares of Ligado and the proxy agreement under which its stake had been held can expire, as it had asked (see 1901070040), said the FCC International Bureau in a docket 15-126 order Friday. It said the investment bank's antitrust felony didn't pertain to FCC activities or involve personnel related to those activities and that it has since made efforts to pay restitution and strengthen its internal controls.

Aireon has full control of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) payloads hosted on Iridium's Next satellites, and the real-time aircraft surveillance system should be operational within weeks, Aireon said Thursday. It said it will do payload testing and validation over the next two weeks. It said the ADS-B system will start with operational trials over the North Atlantic with the Canadian and U.K. air navigation service providers. The last of Iridium's Next satellites were activated this week, after their launch in January (see 1902060025).

Every current C-band customer would continue to get service via the band under the C-Band Alliance midband clearing plan, CBA said in an FCC docket 18-122 posting Thursday. It said clearing more than 200 MHz would mean denying C-band service to some current customers. CBA's "grooming plan" shows how SES and Intelsat would provide that service, including using a new satellite at 135 degrees west. Wednesday, CBA disputed Section 309(j)(1) of the Communications Act mandates competitive bidding and argued Section 309(j)(6)(E) gives the agency wide latitude for alternative approaches.

The handheld satellite phone business will continue to slide due to more terrestrial connectivity, alternatives and more versatile devices, with revenue dropping from $405 million annually today to $357 million by 2027, Northern Sky Research analyst Alan Crisp blogged Wednesday. The industry can still have a future by integrating with terrestrial networks and more retail-focused business models, he said.

Comments are due March 25, replies April 22, on the FCC's November NPRM to expand streamlined processing procedures for geostationary fixed satellite service to digital broadcast satellite service (see 1811130075), said Wednesday's Federal Register.

The last of Iridium's original satellite constellation satellites were deactivated Tuesday, simultaneous with its 65th and 66th Next constellation satellites being activated and completing the company's $3 billion replacement of that first-generation constellation, CEO Matt Desch told reporters in Washington Wednesday. "I can't believe we are done," said Chief Financial Officer Tom Fitzpatrick. The final Next launch was in January (see 1901110024). Iridium built 81 Next satellites, with 66 now in operation, nine spares in orbit and another six spares on the ground, Desch said. Since there haven't been any Next failures, that constellation should have a lifespan of at least 15 years, with the company not having to start contemplating replacing Next satellites for at least a decade, Desch said. Fitzpatrick said instead of $435 million annually in capital spending, Iridium anticipates spending $35 million yearly for the next decade on maintenance. Desch said 47 satellites from its original constellation have de-orbited, five others are in the process and the remaining 13 will de-orbit over the next couple of months.