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REPORT ABUSIVE REPLY
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Message Subject
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SpaceX Iridium-5 Launch Webcast *NOAA Cut the Webcast Short!
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Poster Handle
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The Deplorable Astromut |
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Post Content
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Why does NOAA make them stop their live vid coverage?
Quoting: snark Many may not know this, but NOAA is tasked with restricting commercial operators from taking images from space of things that the government considers to be matters of national security. You might think it would come from the Air Force or the DoD, but no, it comes from the NOAA Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office. "Who is Required to Apply for a License? It is unlawful for any person who is subject to the jurisdiction or control of the United States, directly or through any subsidiary or affiliate to operate a private remote sensing space system without possession of a valid license issued under the Act and the regulations." [ link to www.nesdis.noaa.gov (secure)] For some reason, they apparently wouldn't give SpaceX a license for their second stage rocket for this mission, or the license they gave cut off near or past the second stage cutoff. NOAA's PR arm is apparently just as confused as the rest of us, at least that's what they're publicly saying. Eric Berger has been very reliable for info in the past. [ link to twitter.com (secure)] Personally I still think it came down from NOAA's CRSRA office and whatever it is, it's classified to the point that their PR office isn't privy to it. Interestinger and Interestinger... [ link to www.nesdis.noaa.gov (secure)] This is the ONLY SpaceX CRSRA license I can find anywhere. It concerns some small satellites they put into orbit as prototypes for their planned space-based internet network. I wonder if SpaceX just never asked for a license for their second stage cameras before and NOAA is only now coming down on them for not having a license for showing video late in the launch when the vehicle is at or above orbital velocity. The timing of the cutoff seems to me to suggest they were mandated to shut it off at the moment the perigee distance was such that the vehicle was technically already in orbit. A few seconds later they cut off the second stage at the intended orbit for the satellites' parking orbit. If this happens again during the next SpaceX launch then I think my theory will be confirmed.
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