House Subcommittee Advances Five Satellite-Related Bills

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A U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee unanimously approved five space-related bills 8th March 2023, including legislation seeking to modernize regulations for satellites in non-geostationary orbit (NGSO).

  • The Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act (HR 1338) would give the FCC defined deadlines for processing satellite license applications. It would require the FCC to “modernize its rules to encourage operators to base their operations in the United States,” said House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy Rodgers (R-Wash.), “and incentivize operators to be responsible stewards of space and spectrum in a global marketplace.”

  • The Secure Space Act (HR 675) would prohibit the FCC from granting satellite licenses to foreign entities the U.S. deems a threat to national security or domestic supply chains.

  • Launch Communications Act (HR 682) would streamline the process for accessing certain spectrum for performing commercial spacecraft launches and reentries.

  • Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act (HR 1339) would compel the FCC would to review rule changes that could help promote space-based communications for the agriculture market.

  • Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act (HR 1353) would facilitate the use of satellites as providers of connectivity for emergency services in areas hit by natural disasters or otherwise lacking wireless communications.

New Satellite Distance Records

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New Satellite Distance Records

IO-117 continues to provide a lot of DX fun for amateur satellite operators. Numerous satellite operators have reported receiving the ARRL’s Worked All States and DX Century Club Satellite awards lately as well as CQ Magazine’s Worked All Zones Satellite award (25 of 40 zones are required for the satellite award). For an example about the distances that can be worked via this satellite in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), two QSOs got very near the 13,000 km mark recently.

On 11th February 2023, Dave Fisher, KG0D, worked Lucky Bijanki, VU2LBW. The distance between KG0D in CN88kd and VU2LBW in MK82tv is 12,939 km.

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Amateur Satellite FalconSAT-3 Nears Reentry

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Amateur Satellite FalconSAT-3 Nears Reentry

Many amateur radio operators and satellite watchers have been predicting the date and time of reentry for FalconSAT-3 (FS-3). While all reentry predictions are something of a guessing game due to the large number of variables affecting the upper atmosphere, it is certain that the end for FS-3 will be coming very soon, possibly the week of 16-21 January 2023.

Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) Board Member and FS-3 control operator, Mark Hammond, N8MH, said he will try to have the satellite operational for its final hours. The satellite has only been available for approximately 24 hours each weekend due to weak batteries.

FalconSAT-3 was built in 2005 and 2006 by cadets and faculty in the Space Systems Research Center at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the fourth in a series of small satellites designed, built, and operated there as part of a capstone course, which brings together about 30 cadets each year from several different academic departments.

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