FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY

Applicant Name
Name of Applicant:  ArduSat Inc.

Address
Attention: Joel Spark
Street Address: 85 Bluxome St
P.O. Box:
City: San Francisco
State: CA
Zip Code: 94107
Country:
E-Mail Address: joel@nanosatisfi.com

Best Contact
Give the following information of person who can best handle inquiries pertaining to this application:  
Last Name: Spark
First Name: Joel
Title: Lead Engineer Satellite Bus
Phone Number: 415-800-3285

Explanation
Please explain in the area below why an STA is necessary:
ArduSat-1 carries a UHF half-duplex transceiver to uplink user-generated code, to perform operational telecommand of the station, and to downlink data and pictures from the onboard sensor and cameras. The uplink and downlink connections to the satellite are absolutely necessary in order to perform the technical investigation on the prototype ArduSat payload computer, and for users to perform their experiments in space. Given the not-for-profit nature of the ArduSat project and its limited budget, a Part 25 license for this radiocommunication is not feasible. The operation of the satellite does not represent regular commercial/profit operations. An STA is requested because, the ground station (currently under development by ArduSat) required to communicate with ArduSat-1 is an experimental station, the satellite?s payload is an experimental prototype of on-orbit parallel processing with AVRs, and the short period for which the radiocommunication is required (less than 6 months).

Purpose of Operation
Please explain the purpose of operation:  Cubsat experiment The purpose of the radio operation is to uplink telecommand signals to the ArduSat-1 satellite, and to download gathered data from the satellite. ArduSat, short for ?Arduino Satellite?, is an educational nanosatellite built in the CubeSat form factor that carries a suite of sensors and an experimental Arduino-based payload computer that can be reprogrammed while in space. The user-programmable payload computer is comprised of an array of AVR processors, and can run code developed on the ubiquitous Arduino software development platform. ArduSats were 4invented with the purpose of creating an inexpensive, accessible development platform in space on which students, teachers, hobbyists, and researchers could affordably create and run their own custom-built experiments and applications. ArduSat-1 will be launched to the International Space Station on a regularly-scheduled resupply mission in the summer of 2013. Once the resupply vehicle has docked with the space station, ArduSat will be deployed using JAXA?s external CubeSat deployer. Following deployment, ArduSat will remain in low-Earth orbit for a short lifetime, during which we will perform proof-of-concept tests on the payload computer, and allow early Kickstarter contributors to perform on-orbit experiments and take pictures. Simulations of orbital decay, based various atmospheric and solar flux models, predict that ArduSat-1 will remain on orbit between 12 to 18 weeks, after which it will safely reenter the upper atmosphere and burn up. No part of the ArduSat-1 satellite will survive re-entry and reach the ground. The development of ArduSat-1 began in April 2012 as a volunteer effort by four graduate students at the International Space University. In June 2012, those founders formed the ArduSat Inc, a not-for-profit corporation whose purpose is to make the ArduSat space development platform accessible and affordable to students. The ArduSat project was featured on the crowd-funding website Kickstarter where, in addition to raising substantial awareness and attracting nearly 700 private space enthusiasts as direct contributors, it raised enough support to fund the development of two 1U ArduSat satellites.

Information
Callsign: WG9XFC
Class of Station: FX MO
Nature of Service: Experimental

Requested Period of Operation
Operation Start Date: 07/01/2013
Operation End Date: 12/31/2013

Manufacturer
List below transmitting equipment to be installed (if experimental, so state) if additional rows are required, please submit equipment list as an exhibit:  
Manufacturer Model Number No. Of Units Experimental
Ettus Research USRP E100 1 No
GOMSpace NanoCom U482C 1 No
ArduSat BaseStation SDR 1 Yes
Ettus Research WBX50-2200 1 No

Certification
Neither the applicant nor any other party to the application is subject to a denial of Federal benefits that includes FCC benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. Section 862, because of a conviction for possession or distribution of a controlled substance. The applicant hereby waives any claim to the use of any particular frequency or electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the prvious use of the same, whether by license or otherwise, and requests authorization in accordance with this application. (See Section 304 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.) The applicant acknowledges that all statements made in this application and attached exhibits are considered material representations, and that all the exhibits part hereof and are incorporated herein as if set out in full in this application; undersigned certifies that all statements in this application are true, complete and correct to the best of his/her knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Applicant certifies that construction of the station would NOT be an action which is likely to have a significant environmental effect. See the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR1.1301-1.1319.
Signature of Applicant (Authorized person filing form): Joel Spark
Title of Applicant (if any): Lead Engineer Satellite Bus
Date: 2012-11-16 00:00:00.0

Station Location
City State Latitude Longitude Mobile Radius of Operation
United States (All 50) North      West      Low Earth Orbit, 51.6 degree inclination, 400km altitude
Datum:  NAD 83
Is a directional antenna (other than radar) used?   No
Exhibit submitted:   No
(a) Width of beam in degrees at the half-power point:  
(b) Orientation in horizontal plane:  
(c) Orientation in vertical plane:  
Will the antenna extend more than 6 meters above the ground, or if mounted on an existing building, will it extend more than 6 meters above the building, or will the proposed antenna be mounted on an existing structure other than a building?   No
(a) Overall height above ground to tip of antenna in meters:  
(b) Elevation of ground at antenna site above mean sea level in meters:  
(c) Distance to nearest aircraft landing area in kilometers:  
(d) List any natural formations of existing man-made structures (hills, trees, water tanks, towers, etc.) which, in the opinion of the applicant, would tend to shield the antenna from aircraft:
Action Frequency Station Class Output Power/ERP Mean Peak Frequency Tolerance (+/-) Emission Designator Modulating Signal
New 437.00000000- MHz MO 2500.000000 mW 2000.000000 mW P 0.01000000 % 25K0F1D 9600 baudd MSK
City State Latitude Longitude Mobile Radius of Operation
San Francisco California North  37  46  34 West  122  23  52
Datum:  NAD 83
Is a directional antenna (other than radar) used?   Yes
Exhibit submitted:   No
(a) Width of beam in degrees at the half-power point:   30.00
(b) Orientation in horizontal plane:   15.00
(c) Orientation in vertical plane:   10.00
Will the antenna extend more than 6 meters above the ground, or if mounted on an existing building, will it extend more than 6 meters above the building, or will the proposed antenna be mounted on an existing structure other than a building?   No
(a) Overall height above ground to tip of antenna in meters:  
(b) Elevation of ground at antenna site above mean sea level in meters:  
(c) Distance to nearest aircraft landing area in kilometers:  
(d) List any natural formations of existing man-made structures (hills, trees, water tanks, towers, etc.) which, in the opinion of the applicant, would tend to shield the antenna from aircraft:
Action Frequency Station Class Output Power/ERP Mean Peak Frequency Tolerance (+/-) Emission Designator Modulating Signal
Modified 437.00000000- MHz FX 100.000000 W 82.000000 W P 0.01000000 % 5K00F1D 2400 baud MSK