GN 0277 VSS Vector Coordination Memo

0164-EX-ST-2018 Text Documents

Vector Launch Inc

2018-02-01ELS_204190

Vector 824 E. 16th Street Tucson Arizona, 85719 USA 888.346.7779 VectorSpaceSystems.com Memorandum Date: 31 Jan 2018 From: Michael C. Maguire Vector Launch FRN 0026456863 FCC File Number: 0164-EX-ST-2018 To: Leann Nguyen, FCC – OET Jeanette Spriggs, FCC – OET Subject: Vector Launch Inc. Experimental STA Application for Vector-R Series B1.00X Launch Vehicles Reference Documents: REF1 FCC, DA-13-446, Guidance on Obtaining Experimental Authorizations for Commercial Space Launch Activities, 15 March 2013. REF2 GN-0277-VSS-NEW, Vector FCC Memo Block 0.003 (this document) REF3 GN-0278-VSS-NEW, Vector Supporting Material Experimental STA Application B1.00X REF4 FCC Table of Frequency Allocations (Note US276) This memorandum provides backup data for the Experimental STA Application for the Vector-R B1.00X series launch vehicles being developed by Vector Launch Inc of Tucson AZ. This STA request follows the application guidelines DA-13-446 Guidance on Obtaining Experimental Authorizations for Commercial Space Launch Activities (REF1) and guidance from the FCC Table of Frequency Allocations Note US276 (REF4). Vector Launch Inc is developing the Vector-R as a small, low cost, launch vehicle to serve the commercial small satellite market. A spreadsheet providing tabulated values of mission parameters is provided in REF3 also attached to this application. This application will cover multiple flights of the Vector-R B1.00X launch vehicle. The Vector-R B1.00X vehicles are test launches of the orbital launch capable Vector-R B1 series. Launches are planned from two sites; Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) in Wallops VA, and Polar Spaceport Complex Alaska Vector Launch, Inc. doing business as Vector Proprietary GN-0222-VSS-NEW

(PSCA) in Kodiak AK. Exact mission dates are not yet available; nominal information is provided in the accompanying material. Vector will update the STA application as the launch dates are finalized. This application is for three flights (estimated 3 hours of frequency usage per flight) of the Vector launch vehicle. The launch vehicle maximum flight duration will be less than 180 minutes from liftoff to launch vehicle re-entry. Pre-flight transmitter operation is expected to be less than 90 minutes. The maximum operating time is expected to be less than 6 hours, including some contingency, from the commencement of launch activities. This STA application covers a 6-month period during which launches may occur; the intent is to avoid creating one STA for each launch vehicle flight. Vector will finalize the planned launch dates by updating this application by adding an attachment to the online FCC STA file and by coordinating each launch with local area frequency managers 14-days prior to the test flight. Communications will be by email and telephone. Vector will also provide updates 7- and 2-days prior to launch. Frequency managers will also be contacted the day of launch prior to the flight. Vector has included a stop buzzer phone number in the data table attached to our FCC STA application. Vector will confirm the stop buzzer contact information prior to the flight. A summary of Vector-R B1.00X launch dates follows; detailed technical data for the B1.00X series is contained in GN-0278-VSS-NEW (REF3) attached. The launch dates listed represent the current Vector-R launch schedule; these dates may change. Vector will update this information should any changes occur. Launch Vehicle Launch Site Comment Date Jun 2018 B1.001 NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), Planned Wallops VA Aug 2018 B1.002 TBD Additional launch opportunity TBD Oct 2018 B1.003 TBD Additional launch opportunity TBD The Wallops launch site is located at 37.83152° N -75.49012° E and at an altitude of 10 m. The Experimental STA application requests three telemetry downlinks in the 2360 to 2390 MHz S-Band. This band is allocated for government use however the allocation is authorized for use by commercial launch vehicles in accordance with the FCC Table of Frequency Allocations Note US276. Vector requests use of this on a non-interference basis. The three downlink frequencies are requested; one or more of the links may not be used for each flight. Frequency Modulation Data Rate Emission Use Designator Link 1 2364.5 MHz SOQPSK 128 kbps 241KG1DCT 1st Stage Telemetry Link 2 2370.5 MHz SOQPSK 256 kbps 355KG1DCT 2nd Stage Telemetry Link 3 2382.5 MHz SOQPSK 5000 kbps 4M61G1DCT HD Digital Video Antenna registration is provided for 3 antennas; a single transmitter type will be used. Vector Launch, Inc. doing business as Vector Proprietary GN-0222-VSS-NEW

The transmitter is a Quasonix nanoTX™; this is a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) telemetry transmitter used extensively throughout the aerospace and space industries. The Quasonix unit employs Shaped Offset Quadrature Phase Shift Key (SOQPSK) modulation to provide highly efficient bandwidth utilization at data rates up to 46 Mbps. In the Vector application 3 data rates are indicated: 128 kbps, 256 kbps, and 5000 kbps. These will be used for low-rate digital telemetry, high- rate digital telemetry, and digital video respectively. Note: not all digital telemetry streams will necessarily be used for each launch; three frequencies are listed should Vector require them for additional downlink data. The launch vehicle antenna patterns are omnidirectional. All downlinks will be split to two hemispherical antennas located on either side of the launch vehicle to create an omnidirectional antenna pattern. All antennas are right hand circularly polarized (RHCP). The antenna height will vary from 5 m off the ground while on the launch pad to orbital altitudes (450 km to 800 km). Final orbital parameters will be provided 14-days prior to launch. Please contact me as soon as possible should additional information be required. Thank you, Mike Michael C. Maguire Vector Launch Inc. 824 E 16th Street Tucson AZ 85719 radio@vector-launch.com mike.maguire@vector-launch.com +1 (626) 676 7230 Vector Launch, Inc. doing business as Vector Proprietary GN-0222-VSS-NEW


Document Created: 2018-02-01 12:05:44
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 12:05:44
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