Attachment PanAmSat - Grant jan

PanAmSat - Grant jan

DECISION submitted by IB,FCC

ltr

2011-01-14

This document pretains to SAT-STA-20110112-00011 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATSTA2011011200011_861028

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$2459      SAT—STA—20110112—00011          182011000099                ——_——— | File# SAT—sth—2oilOouz2— aoo[l _                                         SBr—m—20110| 12— 00010
PanAmSat Licensee Corp.                                              i        |                                                                          E.
Intelsat 2                                                       &    *\      ‘ Cal Sign 824859 _ Grant Date_C! /|:+/,|                          .
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       Date & Time Filed: Jan 12 2011 4:02:12:100PM                        lureau    | Approved:                   %él /7 Qa&//
       File Number: SAT—STA—20110112—00011                 FwXcondimans—                                           S—\eé\(\e(\ L. Duall              .
       Callsign:                                                                                                   Chief, Satellite Plicy Brarch

                                                    FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                                          APPLICATION FOR SPACE STATION SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY

                                                                 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY


         APPLICANT INFORMATION
       Enter a description of this application to identify it on the main menu:
       Request for Special Temporary Authority for Waiver of Section 25.283(c) for the De—Orbit of Intelsat 2 (S2459)
        1. Applicant

                   Name:        PanAmSat Licensee Corp.               Phone Number:                                    202—944—7848
                   DBA Name:                                          Fax Number:                                      202—944—7870

                   Street:      c/o Intelsat Corporation              E—Mail:                                          susan.crandall@intelsat.com
                                3400 International Drive, N.W.

                   City:        Washington                            State:                                           DC
                   Country:         USA                               Zipcode:                                         20008          —3006
                   Attention:   Susan H. Crandall


                         Application of PanAmSat Licensee Corp.
          —IBFS Flle Nos. SAT—STA—20110112—00010; SAT—STA—20110112—00011
                                     Call Sign $2459

The applications of PanAmSat Licensee Corp. (PanAmSat) for special temporary authority,
IBFS File Nos. SAT—STA—20110112—00010 and SAT—STA—20110112—00011, are granted.
Accordingly, PanAmSat is authorized for a period of 30 days, beginning on January 20, 2011, to
conduct Telemetry, Tracking, and Telecommand (TT&C) operations necessary to drift Intelsat 2
(Call Sign $2459) from 157.0° E.L. to 174.0° E.L. using the following frequencies: 6424.5 MHz
(H) and 5925.5 MHz (H) (Earth—to—space), and 4198.5 MHz (H, V) and 4199.5 MHz (H, V)
(space—to—Earth). PanAmSat is also authorized to operate Intelsat 2 temporarily in the C— and
Ku—bands at 174.0° E.L. using the following frequencies: 3700—4200 MHz (space—to—Earth),
5925—6425 MHz (Earth—to—space), 12250—12750 MHz (space—to—Earth), and 14000—14500 MHz
(Earth—to—space). This authorization is granted in accordance with the terms, conditions, and
technical specifications set forth in PanAmSat‘s applications, the Federal Communications
Commission‘s rules, and the conditions of this attachment.

1.     All operations shall be on an unprotected and non—harmful interference basis, i.e., Intelsat
       2 shall not cause harmful interference to, and shall not claim protection from interference
       caused to it by, any other lawfully operating station.

2.     In the event of any harmful interference, PanAmSat shall cease operations immediately
       upon notification of such interference, and shall inform the Commission, in writing,
       immediately of such an event.

3.     In connection with the provision of service in any particular country, PanAmSat is
       obliged to comply with the applicable laws, regulations, rules, and licensing procedures
       of that country.

4.     While at the 174.0° E.L. orbital location, PanAmSat shall maintain the Intelsat 2
       spacecraft with an east/west longitudinal station—keeping tolerance of +/— 0.05 degrees.

5.     PanAmSat shall coordinate its operations with existing geostationary satellites to ensure
       that no unacceptable interference results from its temporary operations at the 174.0° E.L.
       orbital location or from its TT&C operations during the drift to the 174.0° E.L. orbital
       location.

6.     PanAmSat shall operate at the 174.0° W.L. orbital location pursuant to existing or future
       coordination agreements for that location.

7.     Grant of this authorization does not convey to PanAmSat any authority to operate a space
       station at the 174.0° E.L. orbital location beyond the term granted herein, nor convey any
       priotrity in the United States‘ satellite licensing process relative to applications for
       authority to operate a regularly authorized satellite at this orbital location.

8.     Grant of this special temporary authorization does not constitute "specific authority"
       pursuant to Section 25.161(c) of the Commission‘s rules.


                               Application of PanAmSat Licensee Corp.
                 IBFS File Nos. SAT—STA—20110112—00010; SAT—STA—20110112—00011
                                           Call Sign $2459

9.        Grant of this special temporary authorization is without prejudice to any decision
          regarding PanAmSat‘s ability to file an application for authorization at the 157° E.L.
          orbital location in the 3700—4200 MHz (space—to—Earth), 5925—6425 MHz (Earth—to—
          space), 12.25—12.75 GHz (space—to—Earth), and 14.0—14.5 GHz (Earth—to—space) frequency
          bands.‘ Grant of this special temporary authorization does not constitute an
          announcement that these frequencies are available for reassignment.

10.       Use of the 12.5—12.75 GHz frequency bands is not permitted for Fixed—Satellite Service
          in the space—to—Earth direction in Region 2.

11.       Within 30 days of completion of any end—of—life maneuvers for the Intelsat 2 spacecraft,
          which were approved in IBFS File No. SAT—MOD—20080811—00153, PanAmSat shall
          send a letter to the Chief, Satellite Division, International Bureau, indicating the apogee
          and perigee of the Intelsat 2 disposal orbit.

12.       The applicant‘s request for waiver of Section 25.283(c) of the Commission‘s rules, 47
          C.F.R. § 25.283(c), IS GRANTED. Section 25.283(c) requires discharge of all stored
          energy sources when a space station is retired from service. Intelsat 2 is a Boeing 601
          model spacecraft, which has a liquid propulsion system that includes two helium
          pressurant tanks and two pairs of fuel and oxidizer tanks. The fuel and oxidizer tanks
          will be vented in the end—of—life shutdown procedure, but there is no mechanism for
          venting the helium tanks. Instead, the helium tanks were sealed by firing pyrotechnic
          valves shortly after launch in 1994. PamAmSat states that the helium tanks have
          enclosed volumes of 43.53 and 42.51 liters and estimates that the mass and pressure of
          residual helium in each tank will be not exceed 129 grams and 262 psi, respectively, at
          end—of—life. We waive Section 25.283(c) in light of the fact that the action taken to seal
          the helium tanks was taken prior to the adoption of this rule, and compliance would
          require direct retrieval of the spacecraft.

13.       Any action taken or expense incurred as a result of operations pursuant to this special
          temporary authority is solely at PanAmSat‘s own risk.


\ PanAmSat has been granted special temporary authority, since September 21, 2010, to conduct telemetry, tracking,
and telecommand operations necessary to drift Intelsat 2 from the 157° E.L. orbital location to 174.0° E.L. orbital
location and to maintain at that location upon arrival. See IBFS File Nos. SAT—STA—20101214—00258 (granted Jan.
6, 2011): SAT—STA—20101115—00236 (granted Dec. 9, 2010); SAT—STA—20101012—00215 (granted Oct. 20, 2010);
SAT—STA—20100810—00176 (granted Sept. 21, 2010). Prior to this authorization, PanAmSat was granted special
temporary authority, for a period of 90 days commencing June 25, 2010, to conduct telemetry, tracking, and
telecommand operations necessary to drift Intelsat 2 from the 169.10° to the 157° E.L. orbital location and to
maintain the satellite at that location upon arrival. See SAT—STA—20100330—00059. On August 6, 2010, PanAmSat
was granted special temporary authority to operate the communications payload on the Intelsat 2 space station at
157° EL. See IBFS File No. SAT—STA—2010330—0059. At the time of this grant, Intelsat has no application
pending to operate a space station in the 3700—4200 MHz (space—to—Earth), 5925—6425 MHz (Earth—to—space), 12.25—
12.75 GHz (space—to—Earth), and 14.0—14.5 GHz (Earth—to—space) frequency bands at the 157° W.L. orbital location.
No Intelsat space station will be operating on these frequency bands at 157° E.L. once Intelsat 2 ceases operations at
this location.


                        Application of PanAmSat Licensee Corp.
          IBFS File Nos. SAT—STA—20110112—00010; SAT—STA—20110112—00011
                                    Call Sign $2459


14.   PanAmSat North America is afforded thirty days from the date of release of this grant
      and authorization to decline this authorization as conditioned. Failure to respond within
      this period will constitute formal acceptance of the authorization as conditioned.

15.   This action is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission‘s rules on delegated
      authority, 47 C.F.R. § 0.261, and is effective immediately. Petitions for reconsideration
      under Section 1.106 or applications for review under Section 1.115 of the Commission‘s
      rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.106, 1.115, may be filed within 30 days of the date of the public
      notice indicating that this action was taken.




                                               SBT— Sb —20110112.7,0006—{60
                                        File# SAT—STA—20TWOVMW2—COO 1|


                                        Call Sign $24593___      Grant Date ot/i4 /11
                                                                                 :     Y
                                        (or other identifier)
                                                                 Term Dates    ‘Peériod 0
                                        From 8! /7—0/!(                To:    "3C O‘fiflé

                            i1 Bureau   Approved:               /%L L@mflfl

                 +toith conditions                              SVC/‘PV@/sJ Dvall .
                                                                Chief , Satellite Po\tcs Branch


2. Contact


             Name:         Jennifer Hindin                      Phone Number:                         202—719—4975°
             Company:      Wiley Rein LLP                       Fax Number:                           202—719—7049
             Street:       1776 K Street, NW                    E—Mail:                               jhindin@wileyrein.com


             City:         Washington                            State:                                DC
             Country:      USA                                  Zipcode:                              20006      —
             Attention:                                         Relationship:                         Legal Counsel


   (If your application is related to an application filed with the Commission, enter either the file number or the IB Submission ID of the related
application. Please enter only one.)
  3. Reference File Number     or Submission ID

 4a. Is a fee submitted with this application?
) IfYes, complete and attach FCC Form 159.          If No, indicate reason for fee exemption (see 47 C.F.R.Section 1.1114).
C3 Governmental Entity      C Noncommercial educational licensee
C Other(please explain):

4b. Fee Classification    CRY — Space Station (Geostationary)
5. Type Request

«74 Change Station Location                        3 Extend Expiration Date                          «) Other


6. Temporary Orbit Location                                                7. Requested Extended Expiration Date


8. Description   (If the complete description does not appear in this box, please go to the end of the form to view it in its entirety.)
     PanAmSat Licensee Corp. herein requests Special Temporary Authority for 30 days—from
     January 12,       2011 to February 10,              2011—for a waiver of Section 25.283(c)                        of the
     Commission‘s rules to the extent the rule requires PanAmSat to discharge all propellant
     remaining in the Intelsat 2 satellite                       (call sign §$2459)          upon de—orbiting.




9. By checking Yes, the undersigned certifies that neither applicant nor any other party to the application is subject @ Yes               g4 No
to a denial of Federal benefits that includes FCC benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti—Drug Act of 1988,
21 U.S.C. Section 862, because of a conviction for possession or distribution of a controlled substance. See 47 CFR
1.2002(b) for the meaning of "party to the application" for these purposes.


10. Name of Person Signing                                                  11. Title of Person Signing
Susan H. Crandall                                                           Asst. General Counsel, Intelsat Corporation
12. Please supply any need attachments.
 Attachment 1: STA Request                          Attachment 2:                  '                 | Attachment 3:


          WILLFUL FALSE STATEMENTS MADE ON THIS FORM ARE PUNISHABLE BY FINE AND / OR IMPRISONMENT
                 (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001), AND/OR REVOCATION OF ANY STATION AUTHORIZATION
                  (U.S. Code, Title 47, Section 312(a)(1)), AND/OR FORFEITURE (U.S. Code, Title 47, Section 503).


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           January 12, 2011


           Ms. Marlene H. Dortch
           Secretary
           Federal Communications Commission
           445 12" Street, S.W.
INTELSAT   Washington, DC 20554

           Re:       Request for Special Temporary Authority for Waiver of Section
                     25.283(c) for the De—Orbit of Intelsat 2, Call Sign $2459

           Dear Ms. Dortch:

           PanAmSat Licensee Corp. ("PanAmSat"), pursuant to Section 25.210 of the
           rules of the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or "Commission"),‘
           herein requests Special Temporary Authority ("STA") for 30 days—from
           January 12, 2011 through February 10, 2011—for a waiver of Section
           25.283(c) of the Commiussion‘s rules to the extent the rule requires PanAmSat
           to discharge all propellant remaining in the Intelsat 2 satellite (Call Sign
           $2459) upon de—orbiting."

           Intelsat 2 is a Boeing 601 model spacecraft, which has a liquid propulsion
           system that includes two helium pressurant tanks and two pairs of fuel and
           oxidizer tanks. The fuel and oxidizer tanks will be vented in the end—of—life
           shutdown procedure, but there is no mechanism for venting the helium tanks.
           Instead, the helium tanks were sealed by firing pyrotechnic valves shortly after
           launch in 1994. The helium tanks have an enclosed volume of 42.53 and 42.51
           liters. PanAmSat estimates that the mass and pressure of residual helium in
           each tank will not exceed 129 grams and 262 psi, respectively, upon
           completion of de—orbit.

           The Commission previously approved end—of—life maneuvers for the Intelsat 2
           spacecraft in File No. SAT—MOD—20080811—00153. However, that de—orbit
           authority did not include a waiver of Section 25.283(c). * All other aspects of
           the authority granted for the de—orbit of Intelsat 2 remain accurate.

           I         Intelsat has filed this STA request, an FCC Form 159 and a filing fee electronically
           via the International Bureau‘s Filing System.
           2         47 C.F.R. § 25.283(c) (". . . a space station licensee shall ensure, unless prevented by
           technical failures beyond its control, that all stored energy sources on board the satellite are
           discharge by venting excess propellant, discharging batteries, relieving pressure vessels, and
           other appropriate measures.").
           >         On October 1, 2010, the Satellite Industry Association sought a blanket waiver of
           Section 25.283(c) for certain satellites, including Intelsat 2. Pleading Cycle Established for
           Comment on Satellite Industry Association‘s Blanket Waiver Request Concerning Relieving
           Satellite Pressure Vessels, IB Docket No. 02—54, DA 10—2291 (Dec. 14, 2010) (Public Notice).



           Intelsat Corporation
           3400 international Drive NW, Washington DC 20008—3006 USA www.intelsat.com T +1 202—944—6800 F+1 202—944—7898


 Ms. Marlene H. Dortch
 January 12, 2011
 Page 2




 Grant of this STA is in the public interest. Under Section 1.3 of the
 Commission‘s rules, the Commission has authority to waive its rules "for good
  cause shown."" Good cause exists if "special circumstances warrant a
  deviation from the general rule and such deviation will serve the public
— interest" better than adherence to the general rule." In determining whether
 waiver is appropriate, the Commission should "take into account
 considerations of hardship, equity, or more effective implementation of overall
 policy."" As shown below, there is good cause for the requested waiver.

 Waiver is appropriate in this case because grant would not undermine the
 purpose of these rules, which is to reduce the risk of accidental explosion and
 post de—orbit debris. PanAmSat will ensure that all active units on the Intelsat
 2 satellite are turned off and that all propellant tanks are depleted. In addition,
 the satellite‘s manufacturer, Boeing, has designed the Intelsat 2 spacecraft so
 that risk of accidental explosion causing additional orbital debris is minimal.
 First, the risk of accidental explosions is minimized because the pressures will
 be very low at end of life of the satellite, especially after the spacecraft is
 powered down and the temperature in the tanks drops. Additionally, Boeing
 has designed the tanks so that they leak before they burst. If a leak were to
 occur, there would not be sufficient energy in the gas stream to damage
 structurally the— spacecraft and generate debris. Moreover, a leak would not
 significantly perturb the satellite‘s orbit because the expulsion of the pressurant
 gas would cause the spacecraft to tumble and the change in the spacecraft‘s
 velocity (i.e., the thrust) would be randomly distributed, with the resulting
 impact on the satellite orbit‘s apogee and perigee being very small.

 Grant of the waiver is also supported on hardship grounds. Intelsat 2 is an in—
 orbit spacecraft. As such, a design change cannot be accomplished at this
 time. Avoiding such hardship is particularly appropriate where, as here, the
 licensee acted in good faith. Specifically, the Intelsat 2 satellite was licensed,
 launched, and operational prior to adoption of the rule requiring discharge of




 4       47 C.F.R. § 1.3; WAIT Radio v. FCC, 418 F.2d 1153, 1159 (D.C. Cir. 1969).
 5       Northeast Cellular Telephone Co. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990).
 6       WAITRadio, 418 F.2d at 1159.


Ms. Marlene H. Dortch
January 12, 2011
Page 3


remalmng fuel at end—of—hfe Under these circumstances, good cause exists to
waive Section 25.283(c)

For the reasons set forth herein, Intelsat respectfully requests that the
Commission expeditiously grant this request for special temporary authority
for a waiver of Section 25.283(c)of the rules for the de—orbit of the Intelsat 2
satellite.

Sincerely,

/s/ Susan H. Crandall

Susan H. Crandall
Assistant General Counsel
Intelsat Corporation



ce:      Karl Kensinger
         Stephen Duall




7         The Commission‘s orbital debris mitigation rule requiring discharge of all propellant,
Section 25.283(c), was adopted in an order released June 21, 2004 that became effective
October 12, 2004. Mitigation of Orbital Debris, Second Report and Order, 19 FCC Red 11567
(2()04), Mitigation of Orbital Debris, 69 Fed. Reg. 54581—54589 (Sept. 9, 2004).
          See PanAmSat Licensee Corp. Amendment to Application for Modification of
Authority to Launch and Operate, SAT—AMD—20070716—00102 (filed July 16, 2007) (stamp
grant with conditions Oct. 4, 2007).



Document Created: 2019-04-14 13:03:08
Document Modified: 2019-04-14 13:03:08

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