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.

Comments

FCC translation: "What, you went over my helmet!?"

[wierd_w]

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.

Who-what-now?

[Hallux-F-Sinister]

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.