With an additional $92 million in hand from Series C fundraising, Kepler Communications said Thursday it plans to launch an optical data relay infrastructure of relay satellites next year to deliver data to and from other satellites. It said it plans to launch two Pathfinder satellites this fall to test and validate its optical communications technology.

Umbra Lab is eyeing Q4 for the launch of two additional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) microsatellites to bolster its existing earth exploration satellite service constellation. In an FCC Space Bureau application Tuesday seeking permission to launch and operate two SAR microsatellites, Umbra said the two would have virtually identical RF and orbital characteristics as its licensed six-satellite constellation. Five of those six have been launched, with the sixth to go up this month, it said.

Comments are due May 12, replies June 12, on the FCC's proposed supplemental coverage from space framework, per a notice for Wednesday's Federal Register. The SCS NPRM, proposing a model where satcom operators partner with terrestrial service operators and get mission authorization for operating satellites on flexible-use spectrum allocated terrestrially in a specific set of bands, was adopted 4-0 in March (see 2303160009). It's docket 23-65.

Noting it finished its C-band clearing more than a year ago, Embratel supports an SES-Intelsat-Telesat proposal for certifying Phase II accelerated clearing of the band (see 2304060026). The three want a Phase II accelerated relocation certification process that would start June 1. In a filing Friday to be posted in docket 18-122, Embratel said any delay of filing beyond that "would not serve any corresponding benefit," especially since it exited the U.S. C-band market a year ago.

Sirius XM hopes to launch two replacement geosynchronous orbit satellite digital audio radio service satellites, SXM-9 and SXM-10, in 2024 and 2025, respectively, it told the FCC International Bureau last week in applications for the two. It said SXM-9 would replace XM-5 and SXM-10 would replace XM-3.

Intelsat's 40e geosynchronous orbit satellite successfully launched Friday on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Intelsat said. It said 40e will provide North American capacity for commercial aviation, mobility and network service customers.

Intelsat wants to add use of the 10.7-12.7 GHz band to its pending application for U.S. market access for a V-band medium earth orbit constellation (see 2111050001). In an FCC International Bureau application Wednesday, Intelsat said adding the Ku-band downlinks would give it more operational flexibility and system capacity.

Norwegian Cruise Line plans to add maritime connectivity via SpaceX's Starlink constellation to its fleet, it said Thursday. It said it's testing Starlink now on one cruise ship, with plans to expand the service to seven others by year's end.

With the last two of its authorized earth exploration satellite service satellites to launch in June, Iceye asked the FCC International Bureau for authorization to launch an additional eight. In an application Tuesday, Iceye said the second tranche of satellites would be technically identical to the first and the first satellite of the second tranche is expected to launch in October.

SpaceX should have to give the FCC information about how it will comply with its existing interference condition to make sure any changes to the system don't harm direct broadcast satellite (DBS) operations in the 12 GHz band, as part of its pending request to update technology in its first-generation constellation (see 2302160009), Dish Network petitioned the International Bureau Monday. Dish said the agency also should confirm the interference condition bars situations where earth stations are subject to significant power contributions from multiple satellites. It said SpaceX's plans to use narrower beams will likely mean cases where a DBS dish will be exposed to significant impacts from multiple satellite beams. SpaceX didn't comment Tuesday.