Application

2061-EX-ST-2019 Applicant Eligibility

Virgin Orbit

2019-11-03ELS_240748

Rev 1.1, 11/01/2019


Request for Special Temporary Authority
Virgin Orbit, LLC

Explanation of Experiment:
Virgin Orbit LLC (“Virgin Orbit”) is requesting “Special Temporary Authority (STA)” to operate an S-Band
Transmitter at 2215.5 MHz. If 2215.5 MHz is unavailable Virgin Orbit is open to any frequency within 2200-
2290MHz band.

The objective of the experiment is the following.

     -     Receive Telemetry data from LauncherOne rocket’s S-Band Transmitter during captive carry test
           flights before space launch. The requested license is needed only for captive carry test flight
           campaign.

747 aircraft will take-off from either one of the two airports shown in Figure 3 with LauncherOne rocket
in captive carry. S-Band transmitter will be turned on in R2508, R2515, W289S and W291 airspaces (shown
in Figure 2). Virgin Orbit coordinates the use of the above mentioned airspaces with the concerned
authorities.

Two different data rates will be tested at the same assigned frequency. LauncherOne transmitter will only
be turned on within the requested areas. Virgin Orbit will have the ability to turn the LauncherOne
transmitter on and off from the 747 Aircraft while in captive carry. The 747 might be flown to a maximum
altitude of 40,000 ft. The transmitter will be turned on at the ground at the airport locations shown in
Figure 3 for RF checkouts.

The S-Band Transmitter will not be turned on without prior co-ordination with DoD WAFC. Exact date and
time of the testing will be flexible based on DoD coordination.

                                                                         Data Rate
Transmitter Output Power                                    20 Watts                    20 Watts
EIRP                                                         49 dBm                      49 dBm
Bandwidth                                                   4.99 MHz                    2.73 MHz
Modulation Scheme                                          SOQPSK-TG                   SOQPSK-TG
Emissions Designator                                       4M99G1W                     2M73G1W
Carrier Frequency Tolerance                                +/- 20 ppm                  +/- 20 ppm
Transmitter Manufacturer                                                 Quasonix
Transmitter Partnumber                                        QSX-VSR4-1111-20-80-04AB-VP-WV
Antenna Manufacturer                                                     Haigh Farr
Antenna Part Number                                                       13155

Figure 1: Transmitter Specs


Figure 2: Map showing areas of requested operation circled in yellow


                                                         Latitude          Longitude
Air and Space Port Mojave, Mojave, CA                    35° 3' 24.4188"   -118° 9' 28.1304"
Southern California Logistics Airport, Victorville, CA   34° 35' 2.7594"   -117° 22' 44.1474"

Figure 3: Take-off and landing Airport locations for Captive Carry



Point Of Contact:

Umer Qureshi
RF Systems Engineer
(562)-706-5295
umer.qureshi@virginorbit.com



Document Created: 2019-11-03 11:53:24
Document Modified: 2019-11-03 11:53:24

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