Before the

**Federal Communications Commission**

**Washington, D.C. 20554**

)

In the Matter of the Application of )

)

Space System License, Inc. for Modification ) File No.
SAT-MOD-19990303-00021

of License for Authority to Launch and )

Operate a Low Earth Orbit Satellite System in )

the 1616-1626.5 MHz Band )

)

**Order and Authorization**

Adopted: June 24, 1999 Released: June 25, 1999

By the Chief, Satellite and Radiocommunication Division, International
Bureau:

1\. By this Order, we grant Space System License, Inc. (SSL) the
authority to increase by two the number of in-orbit spare satellites
authorized for its Iridium satellite constellation.

2\. On January 31, 1995, SSL's predecessor in interest, Motorola
Satellite Communications, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Motorola,
Inc., was authorized to construct, launch and operate a low-Earth orbit
(LEO) mobile satellite system (MSS) consisting of 66 satellites and up
to 12 in-orbit spares.[^1]

3\. SSL states that over the past few months it has reviewed its launch
and in-orbit spare satellite strategies and now believes that it is
prudent to have the authority for an additional two in-orbit spare
satellites. This requirement, SSL adds, stems from current replacement
needs in conjunction with available launch vehicle capacity. Available
launch vehicle capacity may permit launch of replacement satellites in
excess of the currently authorized number of replacement satellites, and
it would be inefficient and unnecessarily costly to launch with less
than a full payload. SSL further concludes that with the authority to
have a total of 14 in-orbit spares it will be able to optimize launch
capacity as well as maintain an adequate number of in-orbit satellites
in each of the six planes of the Iridium system constellation. This will
allow SSL to replace decommissioned satellites more promptly.

4\. We find that the public interest will be served by the grant of
SSL's unopposed application, by giving SSL greater flexibility in
assigning in-orbit spare capacity when needed, and thereby insuring
reliable mobile-satellite service to the public.

5\. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Application File No.
SAT-MOD-19990303-00021 IS GRANTED, and Space System License, Inc. IS
AUTHORIZED to increase the number of in-orbit spare satellites in the
Iridium constellation by two, for a total of 14 satellites.

6\. This Order is issued pursuant to Section 0.261 of the Commission's
Rules on delegated authority, 47 C.F.R. § 0.261, and is effective upon
adoption.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Thomas S. Tycz

Chief

> Satellite and Radiocommunication Division International Bureau

[^1]:
    > *See Motorola Satellite Communications, Inc.*, Order and
    > Authorization, 10 FCC Rcd 2268 (1995); Erratum, 10 FCC Rcd 3925
    > (1995); *recon. denied*, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 11 FCC Rcd
    > 18502 (1996). On January 7, 1998, the Commission authorized the
    > *pro forma* assignment of the Iridium system license to SSL. *See*
    > Letter from Thomas S. Tycz, Chief, Satellite and
    > Radiocommunication Division, to Brent Weingardt, Counsel for
    > Motorola, Inc. (Jan. 7, 1998). By letter dated January 27, 1998,
    > Motorola confirmed that the assignment had been consummated. *See*
    > Letter from Brent Weingardt, Counsel for Motorola Inc., to Magalie
    > Roman Salas, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission (Jan.
    > 27, 1998).