#22 - Spacecraft Frequency Licensing Explained (Amateur & Experimental Licenses), with Alicia Johnstone

Frequency licensing is one of the most important logistics when it comes to preparing spacecraft for launch. Spacecraft must have this before they are allowed to transmit or receive on a frequency, and therefore, they must be licensed in order to launch.

This episode features a conversation on frequency licensing with Alicia Johnstone, who is the resident expert on licensing at Cal Poly and has helped many CubeSat missions with the licensing process throughout her career. The discussion covers everything that goes into obtaining an Amateur or Experimental frequency license, as well as tips for navigating this process and ensuring a license is granted well before spacecraft delivery. Amateur frequency licensing is especially applicable to university-led CubeSat missions, as these typically operate on amateur frequencies, so if you are workin ...