Small Spacecraft Community of Practice
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Small Spacecraft: Spectrum Operations and Authorization
Speaker: William D. Horne, Senior Spectrum Technology Advisor, NASA Headquarters
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
10:00AM-11:00AM Pacific Standard Time
Click here to watch the webinar
Please contact Julianna.L.Fishman@nasa.gov if you experience issues with the audiovisual connection to this webinar.
Abstract: Small spacecraft (e.g., CubeSats) are essentially no different than any other orbiting platform: they are systems in space typically with radiofrequency transmitters and receivers used for a variety of purposes including sensing, communications, and navigation. As such, small spacecraft must follow the existing national and international regulatory and licensing processes as any other system using the electromagnetic spectrum. However, spectrum should not be viewed as the driving factor, important yes, but overall mission operations planning should proceed first, before decisions about radiofrequency operations are made. Mission planners are encouraged to consider data transport volume and latency needs for telemetry, commanding, and mission data; navigational requirements; science observation approaches; and operational sequencing, prior to decisions regarding spectrum use such as the selection of a radio. Of course, spectrum authorization is required, so any mission needs to address the topic throughout the entire lifecycle. Mission planners are highly encouraged to engage the spectrum management community as early as possible, especially at the start of formulation, to inform the concept of operations definition and system development. The Webinar will include both a concise overview of spectrum authorization processes, as well as time to address specific questions from the community.
Biosketch: William D. Horne is a senior spectrum technology advisor and communication systems engineer at NASA Headquarters. Mr. Horne can be reached at william.horne@nasa.gov and welcomes any questions to assist missions in regards to operational planning and spectrum.
S3VI encourages the community to submit questions before the webinar to enable more directed responses. Please send questions to raquel.l.redhouse@nasa.gov.
