US communications start-up Swarm Technologies has come under fire from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for what could be history's first-ever unauthorised satellite launch. The company is planning to launch a small satellite, called OneWeb, on an Ariane 5 rocket in late November, according to Space.com. The FCC said the SpaceBees' 10cm x 10cm x 2.8cm size made them a hazard to other devices, has withdrawn permission for a follow-up launch, and cast doubt on a future mission.
US communications start-up Swarm Technologies has come under fire from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for what could be history's first-ever unauthorised satellite launch. The FCC claims Swarm's placement of four small satellites, dubbed SpaceBees, set to be part of a constellation enabling an internet of things network, did not have authorisation when they were carried into space by the Indian Space Agency in January. The FCC said the SpaceBees' 10cm x 10cm x 2.8cm size made them a hazard to other devices, has withdrawn permission for a follow-up launch, and cast doubt on a future mission.