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FCC Accuses Stealthy Startup of Launching Rogue Satellites
Back in January, the FCC pulled permission from Silicon Valley startup Swarm Technologies to launch four satellites into space after what it says was an "apparent unauthorized launch." IEEE Spectrum reports that the unauthorized launch consisted of four experimental satellites that the FCC had decided were too small to be noticed in space -- and hence pose an unacceptable risk of collision -- but which the company may have launched anyway, using a rocket based in India. The federal regulator has since issued a letter to Swarm revoking its authorization for a follow-up mission to launch four new, larger versions of its "SpaceBee" satellites. From the report: Swarm was founded in 2016 by one engineer who developed a spacecraft concept for Google and another who sold his previous company to Apple. The SpaceBees were built as technology demonstrators for a new space-based Internet of Things communications network. Swarm believes its network could enable satellite communications for orders of magnitude less cost than existing options. It envisages the worldwide tracking of ships and cars, new agricultural technologies, and low cost connectivity for humanitarian efforts anywhere in the world. The four SpaceBees would be the first practical demonstration of Swarm's prototype hardware and cutting-edge algorithms, swapping data with ground stations for up to eight years.
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The FCC told the startup that the agency would assess "the impact of the applicant's apparent unauthorized launch and operation of four satellites... on its qualifications to be a Commission licensee." If Swarm cannot convince the FCC otherwise, the startup could lose permission to build its revolutionary network before the wider world even knows the company exists. An unauthorized launch would also call into question the ability of secondary satellite "ride-share" companies and foreign launch providers to comply with U.S. space regulations.
[...]
The FCC told the startup that the agency would assess "the impact of the applicant's apparent unauthorized launch and operation of four satellites... on its qualifications to be a Commission licensee." If Swarm cannot convince the FCC otherwise, the startup could lose permission to build its revolutionary network before the wider world even knows the company exists. An unauthorized launch would also call into question the ability of secondary satellite "ride-share" companies and foreign launch providers to comply with U.S. space regulations.
Not clear what the summary is trying to say.
Satellites too small to be noticed? So what?!?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Darth Pai does not like it when big telecom's interests are threatened. Your tiny satellites, designed to burn up in the atmosphere, pose a significant risk of colliding with established interests. As such, we refused your launch request, then you went over his helmet, and how he he will crush your balls, pitiful startup weaklings.
Aside from the fact that the satellite may have had radios on them, Not sure where the FCC has any authority over a satellite launched from India. Also not sure why the FCC has any say in how big or small a satellite can be?
It would take less than a week to move the business officially out of the US. The FCC can literally suck it. They are a useless bureaucracy that does nothing but protect incumbent monopolies. The best thing a hardware company can do to accelerate their development and lower their costs is leave the FCC in the dust.
It would take less than a week to move the business officially out of the US. The FCC can literally suck it. They are a useless bureaucracy that does nothing but protect incumbent monopolies. The best thing a hardware company can do to accelerate their development and lower their costs is leave the FCC in the dust.
Unless, of course, they want to sell their product in the USA.
well if they cant sell it they are free to take us to court or complain to wto.
but on the other hand... there is LOADS of people outside the us to and we all have money!
I thought space radar was capable of keeping track of things as small as flecks of paint. How can any satellite be too small for it?
Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
...then they are still wet behind the ears. The FCC has no authority over space or an Indian company.
"Oh sh*t, not that! No, anything but that!!!!! Wooooooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!" Everybody knows I like to have coffee when I watch radar, right?
Launch from anywhere other than the USA.
If necessary, move your HQ overseas.
National boundaries are not relevant in space.
Ah, the traditional anticompetitive US spaceflight practices again. ;)
Ezekiel 23:20
I expect a lot more plans for micro-satellites going forward, e.g. with the low-cost 3D-printed rocket company on New Zealand, plus generally lower cost to orbit with new technologies like SpaceX Falcon - so there is probably a need for further international regulation in that area. Both how things go up, how they stay there, and what gets to go up. I don't really know that market, but I wouldn't be surprised if this has not been properly dealt with.
That being said, I would expect part of the solution could involve (a) something similar to transponders in aviation industry so that 'detection' is not a function only of size, (b) some low-mass low-cost technology to increase the satellites' radar signature, and (c) some international system for pro-actively registering satellites' orbits and orbital changes, instead of only relying on everything being tracked.
Shitty smelly hindu-chimps in FCC are playing you idiots. Their homeland shitty smelly india is too shitty to properly navigate the space.
Dear Donald, unfortunately the ip address routing history of your post is very easy to trace. I suggest that you just stick to twitter for your rants. And yes Bill and Hilary still have their people in the FBI watching your every move. One would think that since you took over the White House that your trolling time about US H1B policies regarding Indian workers on Slashdot would at least be severely curtailed.
Here is a little prediction about what the real Donald will do after the mid term elections and his future adventures to Duckburg, which just happens to be near one of Putin's dachas. Nice having enough cash to become POTUS and still have enough tucked away elsewhere when you screw it all up and the public hands you a lame duck status for your remaining time at the helm. One thing you sure as hell won't be the first or last useless asshole lame duck that we have had to deal with at the ballot box. No wonder the major corporations are turning to India for space technology and decent workers, you sir and your ilk are a fucking bunch of morons!
Depends on if their product has any FCC based implications at all. If the satellites are used over the USA, but the receivers elsewhere get the data then the FCC can go pound sand.
Using regulation to keep people out of the market just means that businesses will do business elsewhere. India and China are large, emerging markets and space isn't US territory. Good on the team for not taking "no" for an answer. Regulatory hurdles that keep them on the ground are at least as big a threat to their business as a government that won't let them off of the launch pad.
Man I just can't wait until the day brilliant minds like you are in charge of things.
they refused to all letter agencies to access the data streams and thus create an untrackable (except potentially them) point of entry to the internet...
So the U.S. thinks that it owns space.
An unauthorized launch would also call into question the ability of secondary satellite "ride-share" companies and foreign launch providers to comply with U.S. space regulations.
Eh, are those US companies like those teenagers on drugs during their home parties: "But I couldn't ask for her permission because I was high, officer!" This is the Uber way of approaching government regulation, after all.
They'll get a subsidiary here to sell it through. Problem solved. Also companies can buy stuff from foreign companies.
Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
As long as the owner of the satellite is a US company, then they are subject to the US licensing laws. If Swarm wishes to relocate to, say, South Sudan, which probably doesn't have a well developed regulatory environment, then they can get a South Sudanese radio license. And operate from South Sudan, have their corporate headquarters in South Sudan, etc.
Our pet company SpaceX gets supremacy in this industry no matter what (it's fair though, because it's a free market, trust us (don't forget to pay your federal income taxes (: ))
They currently are. Pay attn.
umm... how does this help the US technology scene? If India gave go ahead, and they launched from India, what is the issue? if they get complaints about operating in India, wouldn't they just move to another country? I mean Vancouver is less than 2 hrs from California, if they want to be "close".
++++
An unauthorized launch would also call into question the ability of secondary satellite "ride-share" companies and foreign launch providers to comply with U.S. space regulations
Um, who the fuck died and made the US government king of the whole fucking world, let alone gave it the power to "regulate" space?!? Has anyone else on Earth claimed the entire rest of the cosmos yet? Because if not, I, Hallux Fucking Sinister, (yes, that IS in fact what the "F" stands for,) hereby lay claim to all of the cosmos, all universes past, present, and future, as sole owner and god-king, including any multiverse or polyverse(s) or omniverse(s), etc... This unavoidably includes all regions located within my new domains and dominions, including the planet known as (among other things,) the Earth. I therefore own all of you, puny little humans. In my magnanimity, I hereby grant to my measly little subjects, general rights to exist, to have mass, and to occupy space, subject to the following condition, that no one may deny any OTHER one the same right, to exist, or to have mass, and occupy space, this right being throughout my domains and dominions. I require no special tribute or acknowledgement, because I, (unlike certain shitheads with ridiculous haircuts,) do not crave constant attention, like a petulant, tantrum-throwing child.
HOWEVER, you, by availing yourself of this right I grant today, indemnify me against any and all harms that may befall you whatsoever, on behalf of not only yourselves, but your heirs, assignee(s), etc., throughout the universe of time and space. The universe can be a dangerous and uncertain place, and I don't want to get sued if you stumble around in it, unseeing, and stub your toe on a black hole, or something.
Our reign has gone on long enough. Indeed. Summon the meteors.
Yes but if the thing they are buying involves radio transmission originating in the US, they need license from FCC so if that radio network is not approved , guess what will happen?
And it will only take one collision with one of these little satellites for other nations to decide 1) not to allow companies in their countries to use the service so as not to support the irresponsible owner of those satellites, and 2) to make a plan to destroy them
I'm not a fan of the FCC these days but damn, launching satellites "under the table" also seems very snaky. There's also a story now about a Chinese satellite that will be crashing soon. Since that one was sanctioned by China, if it happens to hit a populated area and kill people we can blame China ... What if it wasn't sanctioned ? Blame China for it anyway ... See? US has responsibility for these mini satellites either way so this company needs to follow the rules or, as someone mentioned, get the hell out of the country and do their irresponsible business from elsewhere.
What the FUCK is the FCC doing regulating launches?
Really? The same guys who regulate, or used to regulate, the telegraph?
It was from India. What the F can the FCC do about it? Even using force, with really cheap satellites, you're at a disadvantage, because NASA costs an arm and a leg to get its stuff up there.
I would say that most LEO satellites are not in a plane around the equator (GEO, definitely yes). The vast majority of LEO (especially cube-sats) are in fairly high inclination orbits, 52 degrees if ISS like, 45 to 55 degrees is popular in general, and 85-95 (Polar, including sun sync) is even more popular. The PSLV launch on which these things were was to a Sun Sync orbit
Wait a minute - I thought deregulation was Ajit Pai's policy!
Will somebody PLEASE get this idiot out of government?! PLEASE?!
Self-importance and self-indulgence is the root of ALL evil.