California is working with Earth imaging company Planet Labs to develop and eventually launch a satellite for tracking pollutants tied to climate change, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) said Friday: "With science still under attack and the climate threat growing, we’re launching our own damn satellite.” The state said Planet will manage operations.

AT&T's DirecTV hopes to launch its T16 multiband satellite in Q1, it said in an FCC International Bureau filing Thursday as it asked for authorization for its launch and operation. DirecTV said T16 will operate initially at 103 degrees west as a replacement to or supplement for the T15, T10 and T12 satellites. It said T16 -- which will operate in the Ka-band, 17/24 GHz band and 12/17 GHz band -- will let it expand HD offerings.

The FCC satellite licensing streamlining NPRM should be an addition to, and not a replacement for, existing Part 5 and Part 97 routes for getting small satellite authorizations, representatives of the University of Colorado and its Samuelson-Glushko Technology Law & Policy Clinic told International Bureau staff, recounted a docket 18-86 filing Thursday. They said lowering the $30,000 application fee to perhaps be on par with Part 5 experimental license fees would be helpful to scientific or educational applicants with limited budgets. They argued against requiring propulsion capabilities for Part 25 streamlined eligibility as that could preclude many smallsat missions from using the streamlined process, saying other options are available to guarantee safe deorbiting, such as passive deorbiting acceleration. They suggested more flexibility on requiring satellite trackability for streamlined eligibility other than minimum dimensions, and "remain open-minded" about size requirement waivers.

Arguing fixed satellite service earth stations in motion in the 29.25-29.3 GHz band pose a significant interference threat to its uplinks, Iridium is pitching other ways of allowing ESIM use of that spectrum, in docket 17-95 postings Thursday recapping meetings with Commissioner Mike O'Rielly and Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Julius Knapp (see here and here). The agency could allow land and marine ESIMs in the band but hold off on aeronautical ESIM approval since those pose particular risk of in-line interference, Iridium said, adding that aeronautical ESIM approval could come when there's better coordination of aeronautical operations. The agency could OK ESIM operations in the band with the requirement they protect Iridium feeder link reception via the routes described in the ESIM draft order on the September agenda (see 1809040058), it said. The company said deferring action on riskier ESIM deployments doesn't hurt FCC spectrum use objectives.

Dutch IoT satellite startup Magnitude Space wants to put up a 24-satellite low earth orbit mobile satellite system constellation. In an FCC International Bureau petition for U.S. market access Monday, Magnitude's Hiber said the first two satellites are scheduled for launch in October and November, with the constellation to reach full size over five years. It said a third satellite is under construction, and beyond that the company is exploring the use of smaller satellites for its buildout. It said the constellation will be part of a low-power global area network, Hiberband, providing global connectivity and IoT devices. It said the constellation -- orbiting at roughly 600 km -- will be tied to earth stations around the globe and to ground stations in Norway and the Netherlands. The company plans to use service links in the 399.9-400.05 MHz band for uplinks 400.15-401 MHz band for downlinks and feeder links in the 2200-2290 MHz band when satellites are directly over the ground stations, and not in or near the U.S. Hiber told the bureau that while Orbcomm is authorized to operate on a primary basis in parts of the 400.15-401 MHz band, sharing shouldn't be a problem because Hiber satellites only transmit to earth stations in short bursts when the satellite is directly overhead. Orbcomm didn't comment Tuesday.

Space products supplier Ruag Space joined the Satellite Industry Association, the association said Monday.

Boeing's aerospace venture capital arm lead a $10 million investment in optical communications startup BridgeSat, it said Monday. BridgeSat is developing a global optical ground station network for low earth orbit and geostationary satellite optical communications.

The in-flight connectivity market should see annual retail revenue from commercial passengers hit $3.8 billion by the end of the 2020s, Northern Sky Research said Monday. With service providers struggling to balance services with profit, the too-crowded market is crying out for consolidation, NSR said: This year could be "crucial" for the market as revenue is expected to grow by more than 40 percent.

Eutelsat wants to redirect existing beams of its Eutelsat 133WA satellite and add the 11.2-11.45 GHz and 13.0-13.25 GHz bands, according to an FCC International Bureau petition posted Friday. It said Eutelsat 133WA is expected to start commercial operations this month, but wanted the satellite's previously granted U.S. market access grant to meet significant commercial interest in additional satellite capacity at the 133 degrees west orbital location. The company asked for authorization to repoint its fixed beam that would include an adjustment in the Pacific region and flexibility in pointing one of its steerable beams throughout the potential coverage area depending on customer demand. It sought OK to provide service using the 11.2-11.45 GHz downlink and 13.0-13.25 GHz uplink bands.

The deadline for fixed satellite service earth station operators in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band to register those earth stations with the FCC is Oct. 17, the International Bureau reminded them Friday in a docket 18-122 public notice. That deadline was initially set in June (see 1806220004). It also instructed operators licensed or registered as of April 19 -- or with pending applications by then -- to review those registrations and correct any inaccuracies. April 19 is when the agency put a temporary freeze on new applications or modifications of fixed satellite service licenses in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (see 1804200003).