LEMUR 1 Narrative Statement

0213-EX-PL-2014 Text Documents

Spire Global, Inc

2014-03-13ELS_146850

NanoSatisfi Inc.
Exhibit to FCC Form 422

Narrative Statement – LEMUR-1 Application

A. Introduction and Background

NanoSatisfi Inc. (NanoSatisfi), a Delaware corporation based in San Francisco,

California, requests a conventional experimental radio license to conduct a market trial pursuant

to 47 C.F.R. §§ 5.3(k), 5.54(a)(1), and 5.602. With this experimental license, NanoSatisfi seeks

to research and evaluate the demand in the maritime, meteorological and education markets for

nanosatellite technology as part of its ongoing market trial.1

NanoSatisfi creates tools that make it simple for anyone to interact with space by offering

convenient, affordable, and on-demand access to satellites. 2 The enterprise grew out of a

volunteer effort by four graduate students at the International Space University who began

building a prototype nanosatellite as a platform for making space accessible and affordable to

students. Early funding for the concept came from the crowd-funding website Kickstarter, where

the original ArduSat (short for Arduino-based satellite) concept raised more than $100,000 from

nearly 700 private space enthusiasts.3

Kickstarter Launch – ArduSat-1 and ArduSat-X. Based on the success of this Kickstarter

campaign, and pursuant to a grant of special temporary authority awarded earlier this year,4 two

1
See NanoSatisfi Inc., File No. 0532-EX-PL-2013, Call Sign: WG2XXW (Dec. 7, 2013) (awarding
NanoSatisfi an experimental license to conduct a market trial using its ArduSat-2 satellite).
2
NanoSatisfi, Homepage (last accessed July 10, 2013), http://www.nanosatisfi.com/.
3
ArduSat – Your Arduino Experiment in Space, Kickstarter (last accessed July 9, 2013),
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/575960623/ardusat-your-arduino-experiment-in-space.
4
The Commission granted Special Temporary Authority to ArduSat Inc. for operating these satellites on
April 26, 2013 (Call Sign: WG9XFC; File No. 0917-EX-ST-2012). ArduSat Inc. has since applied for a
full experimental authorization through the end of 2014. See File No: 0787-EX-PL-2013 (filed Dec. 24,
2013). Note that ArduSat Inc. is a non-profit corporation founded solely to launch these two satellites.
While the applicant here, NanoSatisfi, was founded by many of the same members of the ArduSat Inc.
team, NanoSatisfi is a separate, for-profit entity.

NanoSatisfi Inc.
Exhibit to FCC Form 422

ArduSats (the ArduSat-1 and the ArduSat-X) were launched on August 3, 20135 and, after a brief

stay in the International Space Station, released into orbit on November 19, 2013.6 Since these

satellites have been launched, Kickstarter funders and others are using these satellites to test

experiments, play games, take pictures, and run applications. For this pioneering work related to

the ArduSat-1 and ArduSat-X, the Obama Administration has recognized NanoSatisfi Co-

founder and CEO Peter Platzer as a Champion of Change.7 While these first two satellites are

not a part of the ongoing market trial that is the subject of this application, they provide useful

background of the company and suggest the power of ArduSat technology.

ArduSat-2, LEMUR-1, and Extension of the Ongoing Market Trial. Based on the

experience with ArduSat technology and the great deal of interest surrounding it, NanoSatisfi

sought and received authority to conduct a market trial to determine if a somewhat more

advanced ArduSat – the ArduSat-2 – had consumer and commercial applications in the maritime,

meteorological, and educational markets.8 The ArduSat-2 was launched into space on January 9,

2014 as part of the Cygnus Orb-1 resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS),9 and

it was released from the ISS on February 28, commencing transmissions shortly thereafter.10

5
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Launch Result of H-II Transfer Vehicle “KOUNOTORI4”
(HTV4) by H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 4 (Aug. 4, 2013), available at http://bit.ly/1ewSHIE.
6
NASA, Crew Deploys Tiny Satellites and Tests Spacesuit Repairs (Nov. 19, 2013), available at
http://1.usa.gov/1hJEJSm.
7
Creating Next Generation Innovators Through Space Education, The White House (June 6, 2013),
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/06/06/creating-next-generation-innovators-through-space-
education.
8
See Call Sign: WG2XXW, File No.: 0532-EX-PL-2013 (granted Dec. 7, 2014).
9
Orbital Sciences, ISS Commercial Resupply Services Mission (ORB-1) (last accessed Mar. 4, 2014),
https://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-1/MissionUpdate/.
10
See, e.g., NASA, It’s a March of the CubeSats as Space Station Deployment Continues (Mar. 3, 2014),
http://1.usa.gov/1jOJJal.

2

NanoSatisfi Inc.
Exhibit to FCC Form 422

NanoSatisfi seeks approval to operate an additional nanosatellite – the LEMUR-1, as part

of its ongoing market trial with the ArduSat-2 in order to continue testing the educational,

meteorological, and maritime markets. The LEMUR-1 houses additional technology to that of

the ArduSat-2, and additional satellites, including the LEMUR-1, are a critical component of the

market trial because they enable NanoSatisfi to test the type of frequent revisit times necessary to

explore, in particular, the meteorological and maritime markets.

B. Description of Equipment and Theory of Operation

NanoSatisfi seeks to continue its market trial of the educational, meteorological, and

maritime markets from the initial ArduSat-2 with the addition of the more advanced LEMUR-1.

1. The ArduSat Concept.

An ArduSat is a nanosatellite built in the CubeSat form factor,11 a standard that helps

reduce the cost of launching small satellites into space by allowing for a common deployment

system. The basic unit for the CubeSat form factor is a single 10-centimeter cube, weighing no

more than 1.33 kilograms. The CubeSat standard, however, is scalable along one axis, allowing

up to three of these 10-centimeter cubes to be joined together (so-called “1U,” “2U,” and “3U”

CubeSats). The original ArduSats are constructed according to the 1U form factor, while the

AruSat-2 and LEMUR-1 models are designed to the 2U and 3U specifications, respectively.

ArduSats carry a suite of sensors and a payload computer that can be reprogrammed

while in space. The user-programmable payload computer is comprised of an array of Arduino

processors (AVR processors) and can run code developed on the ubiquitous, open-source

Arduino software development platform. ArduSats were invented with the purpose of creating an

11
See California Polytechnic State University, CubeSat Design Specification (last visited July 10, 2013),
http://www.cubesat.org/images/developers/cds_rev12.pdf.

3

NanoSatisfi Inc.
Exhibit to FCC Form 422

inexpensive, accessible development platform in space on which students, teachers, hobbyists,

and researchers could affordably create and run their own custom-built experiments and

applications.

Under this original educational focus – the primary purpose of the ArduSat-1 and the

ArduSat-X – users can design their own space-based applications, experiments, and even space

games using the Arduino open-source prototyping platform. Once a user-designed application

has passed testing on an ArduSat clone located on Earth, users can upload their applications to

the payload computer of an ArduSat that is orbiting in space, where it is monitored and

maintained by the satellite’s main computer. From there, the applications are free to sample data

from the payload sensors and bus, take pictures, and return data to the user’s web browser

whenever the satellite is in range of a participating ground station. At the end of the user’s

experiment period, which can be up to a week in length, any remaining data is downlinked and

returned to the user.

An ArduSat’s payload consists of a suite of sensors, including an optical spectrometer, a

Geiger counter, an atmospheric sensor, an infrared sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a

magnetometer, a sun sensor, an electromagnetic wave sensor, a dual-frequency GPS receiver (for

ionospheric studies), a megapixel camera, and more. The sensors (and other telemetry values) are

sampled by the user-generated programs running on the payload computer. The first two

ArduSats began transmissions on November 19, 2013 under Call Sign WG9XFC.12

2. ArduSat-2.

12
See File No. 0917-EX-ST-2012; see also NASA, Crew Deploys Tiny Satellites and Tests Spacesuit
Repairs (Nov. 19, 2013), available at http://1.usa.gov/1hJEJSm.

4

NanoSatisfi Inc.
Exhibit to FCC Form 422

The ArduSat-2 fits the 2U CubeSat form factor, with a total mass of 2.66 kg and an outer

envelope of 10x10x20 centimeters (excluding the deployable dipole antenna). With this

additional capacity, the ArduSat-2 follows the same basic ArduSat concept but has increased

room onboard for hosting experiments, improved data downlink capability, and new payload

sensors. The ArduSat-2 commenced transmissions on February 28 under Call Sign WG2XX and

is being used to test the maritime, meteorological, and educational markets.13

3. LEMUR-1.

The LEMUR-1 is a 3U CubeSat, adding an additional 10-centimeter cube to the ArduSat-

2, for a total mass of approximately 4 kilograms and an outer envelope of 10x10x34.5

centimeters (excluding the deployable antenna). This additional capacity primarily houses

another receiver allowing for supplemental gyroscopic equipment for steering the satellite more

precisely. The LEMUR-1 is schedule for launch in May 2014.

13
See File No. 0532-EX-PL-2013.

5

NanoSatisfi Inc.
Exhibit to FCC Form 422

C. Construction, Launch, and Orbit Details

Summary of LEMUR-1 Construction, Launch, and Orbit
Schedule of Proposed Launch Launch Mission Method of Proposed Orbit
Construction Integration Service Vehicle Deployment Launch
Date Provider Operator Date

Currently Mid-April CalPoly International Secondary PicoSatellite Currently Altitude: 600
undergoing 2014 Launch Space payload on Orbital scheduled km;
subsystem Services Company the Deployer (P- no earlier
Inclination:
integration (ISC) University POD) than May
97.984
and testing. Kosmotras Satellite attached to 1, 2014
degrees (Sun
Scheduled to (“UniSat”)- the DNEPR
Synchronous
be delivered 6 Mission vehicle
Orbit)
to CalPoly on (Dnepr
April 7, Rocket).
2014.

D. Purpose, Scope, and Objective of Market Trial

NanoSatisfi Inc. seeks authority to continue its market trial, which was initially approved

as a basis for its authority to operate ArduSat-2. The LEMUR-1 will be the second of

NanoSatisfi’s satellites for this trial testing the demand for ArduSat technology in the

meteorological, maritime, and educational markets. To adequately test the demand for these

markets, NanoSatisfi must provide a service with high revisit times. For purposes of the

experimental period, NanoSatisfi is targeting a still lengthy six hours, which will require a small

constellation of up to fifteen satellites. As to this application for the LEMUR-1, NanoSatisfi

requests a two-year experimental authorization to continue this market trial.

1. Maritime Monitoring.

NanoSatisfi requests authority to test the market for using its nanosatellite technology to

monitor maritime activity. Current maritime monitoring systems are generally land-based and

do not offer the ability to track ships when they are outside of a 50-mile zone. NanoSatisfi plans

6

$NanoSatisfi Inc. Exhibit to FCC Form 422 based system relying on a small constellation of up to fifteen satellites, including the LEMUR-1. These satellites will provide reasonable re-visit times of less than six hours. To conduct this meteorological monitoring, LEMUR-1 and the other satellites in the constellation will passively monitor GPS signals at L1 (1575.42 MHz) and L2 (1227.60 MHz) frequencies (no transmissions are required). Based on these GPS signals, the satellites will employ a relatively new technique – GPS-Radio Occultation. 15 Because GPS signals refract differently as they pass through the atmosphere depending on temperature and the concentration of water vapor, it is possible to measure weather patterns using this technology, and there is a great deal of interest both commercially and in government to explore this technology further. For example, the Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 2413) specifically includes provisions for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to examine this technology.16 Weather monitoring technologies such as GPS-Radio Occultation and others are currently receiving particularly extensive attention because of a looming gap in the US government’s ability to monitor the weather with one of its satellites scheduled to reach the end of its useful life in the near future and without a replacement scheduled for some time.17 NanoSatisfi believes that such data is of interest to governments, consumers and the financial services community. Additionally, NanoSatisfi hopes to fuse optical data with atmospheric properties to provide an enhanced value-added product. However, these uses have to be verified, which is the purpose of this experimental period. 15 See, e.g., NASA, Generating Climate Benchmark Atmospheric Surroundings Using GPS Radio Occultations (July 2007), 1.usa.gov/1bOUxEI. 16 See, e.g., Dan Leone, Commercial Weather Provisions in NOAA Bill Survive First Vote in House, SpaceNews (Jul. 9, 2013), http://bit.ly/16bpmwo. 17 See U.S. Government Accountability Office, Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellites 25 (June 2012), available at http://www.gao.gov/assets/600/591643.pdf. 8$

NanoSatisfi Inc.
Exhibit to FCC Form 422

During this experimental period, NanoSatisfi expects to have a small number of pilot

customers (less than 100) to help refine the service and quantify the market need for this data,

which it predicts could be tens of thousands of customers across the globe.

3. STEM Education

Especially in the United States, but also in Europe and elsewhere throughout the world,

economies are suffering from a lack of graduates in the crucial fields of science, technology,

engineering, and math (STEM). While these fields are generally accepted to be at the very core

of our ability to innovate, generate jobs and stimulate economic growth, budget cuts in our

education system have increasingly endangered these fields and created a problematic dearth of

graduates.

NanoSatisfi is testing a novel approach to inspire students to pursue careers in these fields

by giving them access to control the sensors and cameras of a nanosatellite. Students will

engage in an online curriculum similar in format to those offered by Udacity or Coursera. At the

end of this online curriculum, students will have access to the satellite’s microprocessor to

upload their own experiment and control the sensors and cameras. Using a simple online satellite

control interface, users can program and control the satellite, provide instructions on sensor

activation, track the satellite’s orbit, implement experiments and download data and pictures

from space. Users already have access to the ArduSat-2 and will have access to the LEMUR-1

for purposes of testing their experiments and running their applications. Hiding the complexities

of space, this simple, integrated environment democratizes space for schoolchildren everywhere

so that it is no longer only the province of rocket-scientists.

During this experimental period, NanoSatisfi plans to work with a select number of pilot

organizations (less than 200) to help refine the service and curriculum and qualify the market for

9

NanoSatisfi Inc.
Exhibit to FCC Form 422

this kind of educational tool. Nanosatisfi estimates that the total market for this tool could be in

the hundreds of thousands of customers across the globe.

* * *

Including authority to operate the LEMUR-1 under this proposed market trial will help

NanoSatisfi better evaluate the demand for its technology in each of these various sectors.

Consistent with 47 C.F.R. § 5.602, NanoSatisfi will own all transmitting and receiving

equipment in the study, and it will ensure that all trial devices are rendered inoperable at the

conclusion of the trial.

E. Contribution of the Proposed Market Trial to the Radio Art

Testing the LEMUR-1 as part of this proposed market trial promises to significantly

contribute to the development, extension, expansion and utilization of the radio art. As described

above, NanoSatisfi’s proposed market trial will explore three areas to determine the market

demand for innovative nanosatellite technologies. The LEMUR-1 will be among the first

nanosatellites employed for monitoring meteorological and maritime activities and for allowing

the general public to access space in a meaningful way. If these market trials are successful,

NanoSatisfi plans to widely deploy its technology, promising to offer extensive consumer and

educational benefits.

F. Orbital Debris Mitigation Statement

Consistent with 47 C.F.R. § 5.64, NanoSatisfi has included an Orbital Debris Assessment

Report (ODAR) for the LEMUR-1 as an exhibit to this application. As discussed therein,

LEMUR-1’s expected orbital life is approximately nine years based on a conservative initial

orbital altitude of 620 kilometers. In a very unlikely worst-case scenario, if both the solar panels

and the antennas fail to deploy, and assuming a worst-case drag configuration, the outer limit of

10

NanoSatisfi Inc.
Exhibit to FCC Form 422

LEMUR-1’s orbital life is approximately twenty-nine years. At the end of LEMUR-1’s orbital

life, the nanosatellite will re-enter the atmosphere and completely burn up before reaching the

ground. LEMUR-1 does not contain any hard metals or other hazardous materials that could

survive reentry.

G. Onboard Cameras

NanoSatisfi has submitted an application to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (“NOAA”) to operate LEMUR-1’s two onboard cameras (one is for visible light

and one is for infrared light), and the application is undergoing formal review. NanoSatisfi

already has obtained licenses for the cameras onboard the ArduSat-1, ArduSat-X, and ArduSat-

2.18

H. Conclusion

By granting this application, the Commission can help NanoSatisfi make space accessible

to anyone and to unleash the valuable commercial applications made possible with innovative

nanosatellite technology.

The “stop buzzer” point of contact for the market trial is Joel Spark, Lead Engineer Satellite Bus

(415-947-9865; joel@nanosatisfi.com).

18
See NOAA, About the Licensing of Private Remote Sensing Space Systems (last accessed Feb. 28,
2014), http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/CRSRA/licenseHome.html (click on “NOAA Licensees”).

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Document Created: 2014-03-13 11:39:49
Document Modified: 2014-03-13 11:39:49