FCC Expands Satellite Spectrum, Starship Cleared for Flight, and Space Industry Updates

FCC Spectrum Expansion

• FCC is initiating proceedings to significantly expand satellite spectrum assets across multiple bands.
• 🎯 The goal is to unlock over 20,000 megahertz of spectrum for next-generation space-based broadband, more than currently available.
• 🛰️ This expansion targets underused bands ideal for satellite broadband, including the 12.7-42 GHz and 52 GHz bands, to foster modernization and new services.

Starship Returns to Flight

• 🚀 The FAA has authorized SpaceX's Starship to return to flight after completing a safety review of the Flight 8 mishap.
• ⚠️ SpaceX must update its flight safety analysis, and the FAA is expanding hazard areas due to the updated analysis and the reuse of a Superheavy booster.
• 📅 Starship test flight number 9 is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 27th, from Starbase, Texas.

Key Space Industry Agreements and Developments

• 🤝 Impulse Space and SES have signed a multi-launch agreement utilizing Impulse's Helios kickstage for rapid satellite orbital insertion.
• 🇯🇵 ICEYE is partnering with IHI Corporation to develop a SAR satellite constellation of up to 24 satellites in Japan for Earth observation.
• 💰 The Texas Space Commission approved $20.7 million in grant applications for five proposed projects, bringing the total granted since 2023 to $116 million.

Global Space Activity and Launches

• 🇨🇳 Chinese astronauts completed an 8-hour spacewalk to install space debris shields on the Tiangong space station.
• 🇦🇷 NASA signed an agreement with Argentina's Space Agency for an Artemis II CubeSat.
• 🚀 The weekly space traffic report highlighted launches including China's Landspace Zhuque-2, Rocket Lab's Electron, ISRO's PSLV failure, Galactic Energy's Ceres-1S, China's Long March 7A, SpaceX's Starlink mission, China's Jielong-1, and Russia's Soyuz 2.1b.
• 🛰️ Upcoming launches include Rocket Lab's Electron for BlackSky, China's Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission, and multiple Starlink missions.