Congress Sends White House Bill Boosting LEO Satellite Launches

WASHINGTON, Sept.18, 2024 – A bill requiring that critical spectrum frequencies be allocated for commercial space launches passed the House late Tuesday, and now heads to the President’s desk.

The Launch Communications Act mandates that the Federal Communications Commission allocate spectrum between 2200 - 2290 and 2360 - 2395 MegaHertz (MHz) to support the growth of low-Earth orbit satellites. The bill would also streamline the process for accessing these frequencies, which supporters say is crucial for satellite servicing and relaunch.

Of the more than 100 launches the Federal Aviation Administration has authorized this year, 91 have been SpaceX launches, with 62 of them dedicated to deploying Starlink satellites. Each launch typically delivered 20 to 23 LEO satellites into orbit.