LUNAR AND MARTIAN SPECTRUM COORDINATION -- FIRST

UNCLAS PARIS 002324

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/CIP, EUR/WE, AND EUR/ERA
USDOC FOR NTIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECPS TSPA FR
SUBJECT: LUNAR AND MARTIAN SPECTRUM COORDINATION -- FIRST
TECHNICAL PREPARATORY MEETING



1. Summary: The first technical preparatory meeting for
intergovernmental coordination on a Spectrum Use Plan for
Lunar and Martian Space Exploration was held March 20-23 in
Paris. The meeting was hosted by the European Space Agency
(ESA) and jointly chaired by ESA and NASA. All six of the
space agencies with Lunar and/or Martian programs -- ESA,
JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency),Roskosmos
(Russian Space Agency),CNSA (China National Space
Administration),ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)
and NASA along with a representative from the European
Commission -- were in attendance. The United States was
represented by State (EB/CIP),NASA and Commerce (NTIA).
All six agencies made one or more presentations on their
exploration programs and their associated radio spectrum use
plans to support those programs. There was unanimous
agreement to develop a spectrum use plan to harmonize the
spectrum requirements of the six space agencies and to
pursue enabling interoperability among the space programs.
End Summary.


2. The U.S. team gave two presentations at the meeting. The
first was its Space Communication and Navigation
Architecture through the 2030 time frame and the second was
the Proposed Frequency Plan for Architecture Elements Used
for Exploration. ESA followed with three presentations on
its "Aurora" program for robotic missions to the Moon and
Mars (no human missions have been approved yet),its
spectrum requirements for the program and a "way forward"
document on Lunar and Martian spectrum coordination. JAXA
and ISRO presented their documents on Lunar and planetary
missions and the spectrum requirements for those missions.
Roskosmos made two presentations on its robotic and human
space missions plus a presentation on a commercial Lunar
program. CNSA was the last to present and, while its
presentation was extensive, it was general in nature with no
mention of the human space missions that have been covered
in the press and few details on its spectrum requirements.
In private conversations, the lone CNSA representative
indicated that their delegation will be larger at the next
meeting and he clearly understands that we are looking for
more detailed information.


3. Separate spreadsheets were prepared that combined the
mission requirements of the six agencies and the spectrum
requirements to support the missions. These documents were
reviewed and refined by the participants. Each agency is to
submit additions and refinements to these documents prior to
the second technical preparatory meeting. A list of ten
action items was adopted based on the discussions, including
a suggestion by Japan that we identify the active and
passive sensing frequencies that may be used by missions in
the vicinity of the Moon and Mars.


4. A major issue for the U.S. team was to generate interest
in interoperability and cross support among the space
agencies for the Lunar and Martian programs. For these
meetings, interoperability is defined as the ability for
spacecraft and other mission resources to interact and
support each other's operation to the extent agreed to by
the mission sponsors. This capability is enabled through
agreement to operate in the same communication RF bands for
similar functions, but it is only fully implemented when, at
a later time, mission sponsors may agree on compatible
communications protocols and operational concepts.
Interoperability would help to control costs and help ensure
the success of the space missions. All of the space
agencies agreed that they are in favor of enabling
interoperability with China going along with the agreement
without comment. In preparation for the second meeting,
each agency is to have discussions in their respective space
agency to determine how interoperability can be achieved.
Specifically they are to look at a general set of frequency
bands and their proposed use and provide a list of earth
stations which could be made available for cross-supporting
another agency's missions pursuant to appropriate
agreements.


5. The U.S. Team was very pleased with the results of the
meeting. All of the objectives for the first meeting were
met or exceeded. There was little discussion about the
intergovernmental meeting. The final products of these
meetings and how they will be formalized are still open
issues. It was tentatively agreed that the second technical
preparatory meeting would be hosted by JAXA May 22-23 in the
greater Tokyo area.

Stapleton