University of Southern California

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY

Applicant Name

Name of Applicant:

University of Southern California

Address

Attention:	David Barnhart
Street Address:	4676 Admiralty Way, Suite 1001
P.O. Box:
City:	Marina Del Rey
State:	CA
Zip Code:	90292
Country:
E-Mail Address:	[email protected]

Best Contact

Give the following information of person who can best handle inquiries pertaining to this application:   Last Name: Bezouska First Name: Will Title: Systems Engineer Phone Number: 3104433509

Explanation

Please explain in the area below why an STA is necessary: The Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) at the University of Southern California (USC) has been granted a unique opportunity to place our student-designed satellite on an upcoming space launch vehicle as a secondary payload. These opportunities are rare and often driven by the schedule of the primary payload. As such, they tend to appear suddenly. We were notified of this opportunity approximately 105 days prior to launch. In order to respond quickly, we are filing a Special Temporary Authority (STA). Our mission is brief, lasting no more than 90 days. This duration qualifies the experiment for STA and hopefully accelerates the licensing process.

Purpose of Operation

Please explain the purpose of operation:

This research project seeks to perform on-orbit testing of an advanced nanosatellite payload. The STA, if granted, will be used to operate the student-built satellite (command and control) as well as receive payload telemetry to assess the functional test results. The STA will be used for the primary RF communications link, both on the satellite (space-station) and ground (earth-station). Details of RF operation: The earth-station transmitter, located in Los Angeles, will broadcast brief messages intended to initiate a communication session with the orbiting satellite. A parabolic antenna will track the satellite as it moves across the sky. Once a sync message is received at the space-station, handshaking will occur, establishing a bidirectional communication link. Then commands can be sent and telemetry received. Simulations show that this operation will be repeated approximately 27 times during the 90-day experiment duration. Each access to the satellite (pass) will last between two and five minutes. Therefore, the total possible operation of this system is approximately 108 minutes over a 90 day mission, minimizing spectrum use.

Information

Callsign:	WE9XHN
Class of Station:	FX MO
Nature of Service:	Experimental

Requested Period of Operation

Operation Start Date:	05/10/2010
Operation End Date:	08/10/2010

Manufacturer

List below transmitting equipment to be installed (if experimental, so state) if additional rows are required, please submit equipment list as an exhibit:
Manufacturer	Model Number	No. Of Units	Experimental
Microhard	MHX425	2	No

Certification

Neither the applicant nor any other party to the application is subject to a denial of Federal benefits that includes FCC benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. Section 862, because of a conviction for possession or distribution of a controlled substance. The applicant hereby waives any claim to the use of any particular frequency or electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the prvious use of the same, whether by license or otherwise, and requests authorization in accordance with this application. (See Section 304 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.) The applicant acknowledges that all statements made in this application and attached exhibits are considered material representations, and that all the exhibits part hereof and are incorporated herein as if set out in full in this application; undersigned certifies that all statements in this application are true, complete and correct to the best of his/her knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Applicant certifies that construction of the station would NOT be an action which is likely to have a significant environmental effect. See the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR1.1301-1.1319.

Signature of Applicant (Authorized person filing form):	David Barnhart
Title of Applicant (if any):	Director, ATSC
Date:	2010-02-01 00:00:00.0

Station Location

	City	State	Latitude	Longitude	Mobile	Radius of Operation
	Redondo Beach	California	North  33  53  28	West  118  22  23

Datum:  NAD 83 Is a directional antenna (other than radar) used?   Yes Exhibit submitted:   Yes (a) Width of beam in degrees at the half-power point:   20.00 (b) Orientation in horizontal plane:   (c) Orientation in vertical plane:   Will the antenna extend more than 6 meters above the ground, or if mounted on an existing building, will it extend more than 6 meters above the building, or will the proposed antenna be mounted on an existing structure other than a building?   No (a) Overall height above ground to tip of antenna in meters:   (b) Elevation of ground at antenna site above mean sea level in meters:   (c) Distance to nearest aircraft landing area in kilometers:   (d) List any natural formations of existing man-made structures (hills, trees, water tanks, towers, etc.) which, in the opinion of the applicant, would tend to shield the antenna from aircraft:

Action	Frequency	Station Class	Output Power/ERP	Mean Peak	Frequency Tolerance (+/-)	Emission Designator	Modulating Signal
New	435.00000000-438.00000000 MHz	FX	10.000000 W 610.000000 W	M	0.00015000 %	280KF1D	1152000 bps
	City	State	Latitude	Longitude	Mobile	Radius of Operation
			North	West	Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Approximate orbit: circular, 350km altitude, 51 degree elevation.

Datum:  NAD 83 Is a directional antenna (other than radar) used?   No Exhibit submitted:   No (a) Width of beam in degrees at the half-power point:   (b) Orientation in horizontal plane:   (c) Orientation in vertical plane:   Will the antenna extend more than 6 meters above the ground, or if mounted on an existing building, will it extend more than 6 meters above the building, or will the proposed antenna be mounted on an existing structure other than a building?   No (a) Overall height above ground to tip of antenna in meters:   (b) Elevation of ground at antenna site above mean sea level in meters:   (c) Distance to nearest aircraft landing area in kilometers:   (d) List any natural formations of existing man-made structures (hills, trees, water tanks, towers, etc.) which, in the opinion of the applicant, would tend to shield the antenna from aircraft:

Action	Frequency	Station Class	Output Power/ERP	Mean Peak	Frequency Tolerance (+/-)	Emission Designator	Modulating Signal
New	435.00000000-438.00000000 MHz	MO	1.000000 W 1.000000 W	M	0.00015000 %	280KF1D	115200 bps

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