The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules to provide access to spectrum that can be used by commercial space launch vehicles during pre-launch testing and space launch operations.
Frequencies used to support communications during space launches have historically been allocated for exclusive use by federal agencies. Now, under the terms of a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in late April, the FCC has added a non-federal, secondary allocation in the 2200-2290 MHz band that can be used by private space travel and satellite launch companies for communications purposes.
The FCC notes that non-federal operators will need to continue to coordinate their communications requirements through existing STA and NTIA processes until additional rules have been adopted that provide a new spectrum use coordination scheme.
Read the FCC’s Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on spectrum for commercial space launches.
