Under the agreement, the government has first priority on the use of the SCF, and any commercial use of the facility cannot interfere with government requirements for its use. These commercial companies will be able to schedule the SCF over the Web and use the facility as though it were one of their own ground stations, being billed only for satellite contacts that are conducted. The contracts with Honeywell DataLynx and Universal Space Net are both 5-year agreements that allow the companies to use the SCF to communicate with their satellites. With technical support always on call, we ve been conducting unattended contacts with satellites since 1995, and now this capability can be shared with commercial users on a cost-effective basis. Other arrangements include per-minute use and custom recording of satellite passes involving APL personnel.
Customers can schedule their own satellite contacts over the Web.
Media are welcome to tour the SCF facility. APL conducts research and development primarily for national security and for nondefense projects of national and global significance.