[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 47, Volume 2]

[Revised as of October 1, 2004]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 47CFR25.283]



[Page 363]

 

                       TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION

 

                    CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

                         COMMISSION (CONTINUED)

 

PART 25_SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS--Table of Contents

 

                     Subpart D_Technical Operations

 

Sec. 25.283  End-of-life disposal.



    (a) Geostationary orbit space stations. Unless otherwise explicitly 

specified in an authorization, a space station authorized to operate in 

the geostationary satellite orbit under this part shall be relocated, at 

the end of its useful life, barring catastrophic failure of satellite 

components, to an orbit with a perigee with an altitude of no less than:



36,021 km + (1000[middot]CR[middot]A/m)





where CR is the solar pressure radiation coefficient of the 

spacecraft, and A/m is the Area to mass ratio, in square meters per 

kilogram, of the spacecraft.

    (b) A space station authorized to operate in the geostationary 

satellite orbit under this part may operate using its authorized 

tracking, telemetry and control frequencies, and outside of its assigned 

orbital location, for the purpose of removing the satellite from the 

geostationary satellite orbit at the end of its useful life, provided 

that the conditions of paragraph (a) of this section are met, and on the 

condition that the space station's tracking, telemetry and control 

transmissions are planned so as to avoid electrical interference to 

other space stations, and coordinated with any potentially affected 

satellite networks.

    (c) All space stations. Upon completion of any relocation authorized 

by paragraph (b) of this section, or any relocation at end-of-life 

specified in an authorization, or upon a spacecraft otherwise completing 

its authorized mission, a space station licensee shall ensure, unless 

prevented by technical failures beyond its control, that all stored 

energy sources on board the satellite are discharged, by venting excess 

propellant, discharging batteries, relieving pressure vessels, and other 

appropriate measures.

    (d) The minimum perigee requirement of paragraph (a) of this section 

shall not apply to space stations launched prior to March 18, 2002.



[69 FR 54588, Sept. 9, 2004]



    Effective Date Note: At 69 FR 54588, Sec. 25.283 was added, 

effective Oct. 12, 2004.