The FCC granted EchoStar Corp. special temporary authority (STA) for 30 days, effective Sept. 12, to perform telemetry, tracking, and command operations during the relocation of the EchoStar 8 satellite from 110 degrees west longitude (WL) to 77 degrees WL.
The FCC also listed EchoStar's request seeking continuation of operations of EchoStar 8 at 109.8 degrees WL as granted. PanAmSat's request for STA to operate PAS-9, also known as PAS-5 or Intelsat 5, at 26.15 degrees east longitude (EL) until Oct. 30, 2008 was granted. The FCC International Bureau granted a request from Satellite CD Radio, Inc. to modify its existing Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) constellation by launching and operating an NGSO satellite FM-6 to replace existing satellites FM-1 and FM-2. FM-6 will operate with an orbital plane halfway between the orbits of FM-1 and FM-2 and will be located 180 degrees opposite Satellite CD Radio's other satellite, FM-3, using the 2320-2332.5 MHz (space-to-Earth) and 7050-7072.5 MHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands.
For additional information these actions, withdrawal of another SES Americom launch and operating authority, and ViaSat meeting its contract execution milestone, see FCC Report SAT-00555.
