Expanded uplink allocations for non-geostationary orbit broadband in parts of the W band represent a serious interference risk to scientific and weather forecasting interests, including the Tomorrow Companies' own earth observation work, according to the satellite operator. In a docket 25-180 filing posted Friday, Tomorrow said data from the 90-92 GHz and 115-122 GHz passive bands is hugely important to weather prediction and storm structure analysis, and those measurements can't be done in another swath of spectrum. Low-level out-of-band emissions from NGSO uplinks could mimic natural atmospheric signals, it said. Tomorrow urged "strict, enforceable" limits on such emissions and "sufficient separation" between uplink allocations and passive science bands. The FCC adopted a Further NPRM in May asking about opening parts of the W band to satellite communications (see 2505280055).

Some federal agencies could struggle to meet the large reform agenda laid out in the White House's space launch executive order issued earlier this month (see 2508140004), Pillsbury space lawyer Jodi Goldberg wrote last week. Some agencies mentioned in the order have experienced budget and staffing cuts in recent months, with more potentially coming, she said. The Department of Transportation and NASA -- key to the order's execution and the White House's space priorities -- are currently under the same leadership, she noted. "With fewer resources and a recalibration of institutional knowledge within the agencies, the Administration’s ability to deliver widescale meaningful reform in each area identified, and on the timeline set by the EO, may be an accomplishment on the same level as successfully launching a rocket to Mars."

Launch provider Rocket Lab cut the ribbon Thursday on the U.S. launch site for its Neutron rocket, which is targeting the satellite megaconstellation market. The launch site is at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia.

The White House's commercial space launch executive order, issued earlier this month (see 2508140004), will likely lead to the elimination of duplicative analyses that the FAA and other government agencies do, Covington staffers wrote Sunday. Space Force already does extensive analyses, such as calculating the expected casualty risks for every launch mission, and the FAA has said it would defer to federal range-safety processes for launches from the Eastern and Western ranges, wrote Stephanie Barna, Alan Estevez and Ethan Syster. However, they added, in practice the FAA still certifies those Space Force results independently, meaning launch providers and their customers can face two layers of scrutiny for the same safety models and data, which can increase confusion and delay. The FAA's ongoing review of its Part 450 space launch rules, backed by the order, "could address these pain points."

Any changes to the geostationary/non-geostationary orbit spectrum-sharing framework needs more study about the protection of other incumbent services, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory said Monday (docket 25-157). The U.S. should refrain from unilateral changes to the framework, the group said, adding that there's an indication that such rule changes might mean NGSO constellations could be smaller, which would benefit radio astronomy.

Astranis hopes to launch a pair of small geostationary orbit (GSO) broadband satellites as soon as December. In an application Sunday, it asked for permission to launch and operate its Astranis 121W system of two MicroGEOs, small GSOs that would provide broadband to North America and parts of South America. The 121W satellites would operate in the Ka band from 121 degrees west, said the company, which currently operates five other MicroGEO satellites. The 121W MicroGEOs would be the functional equivalent of a GSO system, Astranis said, and thus it applied for both in a single application.

AST SpaceMobile is seeking FCC approval for two years of testing off-the-shelf cellular handsets receiving supplemental coverage from space service using FirstNet's Band 14. In an experimental license application last week, AST said the testing would be done in a 24-kilometer-radius area in Texas using 758-768 MHz downlinks and 788-798 MHz uplinks. Such testing would allow AST to continue evaluating its Bluebird satellites' capabilities to transmit and receive broadband communications to and from mobile handsets in the Band 14 network footprint, it said.

Alaska Airlines said Wednesday that it will start offering SpaceX-provided broadband on its flights starting in 2026, and all its aircraft will be converted to Starlink service by 2027. The company's Hawaiian Airlines aircraft are already equipped with the service, it said. Intelsat currently provides satellite connectivity for Alaska Airlines flights.

Testing done in Colombia -- like previous testing conducted in Romania -- confirms that a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite system can protect geostationary orbit (GSO) system Ku-band downlinks even when using co-frequency beams, according to SpaceX. In a docket 25-157 filing posted Thursday, SpaceX recapped a meeting with the FCC Space Bureau, saying it will submit a full report of the Colombia testing soon. The company said the test results "deliver direct, real-world evidence" supporting the protection criteria that it proposed. SpaceX has petitioned the commission for a revision of U.S. spectrum-sharing methodology between NGSO and GSO fixed satellite service downlinks (see 2408120018).

SpaceX is seeking FCC OK to significantly rejigger the configuration of its first-generation Starlink satellites. In a Space Bureau application submitted Friday, the company said it wanted to boost the number of planes and satellites per plane for the approved 4,408 first-gen satellites. It added that the new configuration would let it more efficiently deploy broadband coverage and capacity to meet customer demand.