Sidereal — Playbook Hub

Playbook 01

Client Intake

Run during or right after the intake meeting. Complete all five areas. Output generates risk classification, action items, and 48-hour follow-up email.

Client Information

Client / Organization Name *

Mission Lead

Email

Area 01 — Mission Profile

Primary Mission Objective

Target Orbit

Form Factor

Target Launch Date

Timeline Driver

Launch Vehicle / Aggregator

Area 02 — Hardware Readiness

Development Stage

Mass (kg — measured?)

End-of-Life Disposal

Propulsion Present?

Area 03 — Regulatory Status

Highest Stakes Area

ITAR violations are federal criminal offenses. Hard stops here require escalation before any engagement proceeds.

Export Classification Done?

Foreign Nationals on Team?

FCC Application Status

Earth Observation Payload?

Export Counsel Engaged?

Area 04 — Commercial Readiness

Total Budget

Budget Status

Existing Launch Agreement?

Space Legal Counsel?

Area 05 — Team Assessment

Team Size (Technical)

Prior Launch Experience?

Post-Launch Ops Plan?

Additional Notes

Playbook 02

Regulatory Coordination

Step-by-step per agency. Escalation triggers are marked — do not bypass under any circumstances.

FAA — Payload Documentation

Sidereal's Role

We are not the launch operator. Our job is knowing what the launch operator needs before the client asks — and getting it right the first time.

FAA-01

Obtain and verify current Payload User's Guide for target launch vehicle

Confirm it is the current version. Outdated PUG = false confidence.

FAA-02

Confirm mass, volume, CoG against PUG limits — measured values only, no estimates

FAA-03

Identify RF emissions during ascent — confirm kill switch / inhibit compliance with PUG

FAA-04

Materials review — confirm no PUG-prohibited materials in client BOM

FAA-05

Submit Payload Review package to launch operator — allow 4–8 weeks for response

FCC — Spectrum Licensing

Timeline Critical — Start at Phase 1

Part 25 takes 6–12+ months. Start simultaneously with everything else. Not after.

Which FCC path applies?

→

Commercial: Part 25 Space Station License. International Bureau. 6–12+ months.

→

R&D / no commercial intent: Experimental License. 3–6 months. 2-year limit. No commercial data services.

→

Amateur: ONLY if strictly non-commercial. Any monetization = FCC violation. Confirm business model first.

FCC-01

Determine license path — confirm business model before selecting. Amateur + commercial = violation.

FCC-02

Collect technical params from client engineering: frequencies, power, orbital params, antenna gain, modulation

FCC-03

File FCC application with qualified regulatory counsel — do not attempt without space specialist

FCC-04

Initiate ITU coordination filing through FCC simultaneously — some bands have heavy coordination burden

FCC-05

Respond to FCC information requests within 14 days — slow responses extend review significantly

FCC-06

Confirm authorization in hand before manifest confirmation — no auth = no manifest

NOAA — Remote Sensing (EO Only)

Skip if Not Applicable

Only required for optical, SAR, hyperspectral, or multispectral Earth observation payloads.

NOAA-01

Determine tier: Tier 1 (60–120d), Tier 2 (120+d), Tier 3 (unpredictable). Impacts timeline significantly.

NOAA-02

Brief client on shutter control — NOAA can restrict imaging of specific areas. Real business model constraint.

NOAA-03

Submit NOAA CRSRA application in parallel with FCC — never sequentially

NOAA-04

Confirm NOAA license received before manifest confirmation

ITAR / EAR — Export Control

Criminal Exposure — Never Bypass

ITAR violations: federal prosecution, $1M per violation, prison. Sidereal identifies risk and refers. We do not advise on classification.

ITAR-01

Confirm export classification complete (USML vs CCL) — if not done, refer to counsel immediately

ITAR-02

If foreign nationals on team — confirm TCP in place before any controlled technology access

ITAR-03

If foreign launch vehicle — initiate TAA with DDTC before any technical exchange. 60–90 days minimum.

ITAR-04

Confirm encryption classification if satellite has encrypted command/control comms

ITAR-05

Confirm Sidereal's own service agreement reviewed by export counsel — client compliance representations included

Escalation Triggers

STOP ALL WORK — ESCALATE IMMEDIATELY: Foreign nationals + controlled tech + no TCP confirmed Foreign vehicle + no TAA initiated Client discloses ITAR-controlled hardware not yet classified Any regulatory deadline within 30 days with no filing started Client requests export classification advice (not our role) ESCALATE BEFORE PROCEEDING: FCC not started with under 12 months to launch NOAA not started with under 6 months to launch Client has signed agreements Sidereal has not reviewed Regulatory counsel pushes back unexpectedly on any filing

Playbook 03

Mission Timeline

Enter launch and manifest close dates. Critical path generates backwards from manifest. Red items need action today.

Mission Dates

Target Launch Date *

Manifest Close Date *

Engagement Start

Playbook 04

Payload Logistics

Physical handling protocol. Every handoff: transfer receipt. Every shipment: data loggers. No exceptions, no shortcuts.

Shipment Config

Transport Mode

Dangerous Goods Present?

Pre-Shipment Checklist

Container spec confirmed against payload environmental requirements

Vibration isolation, thermal, humidity, N₂ purge if required

Calibrated data loggers installed — temperature, humidity, shock/vibration, pressure

Calibration current. Logger records throughout entire transit.

Carrier confirmed — air-ride, climate controlled, GPS tracked, sensitive cargo certified

Export documentation complete before departure — ITAR/EAR classification confirmed

Space-rated all-risk ground transit insurance active — full replacement value, no breakdown exclusion

Transfer receipt prepared for first handoff

Client briefed on arrival protocol and cleanroom requirements

On Arrival — Integration Facility

Pull and review data logger record BEFORE opening container

Any exceedance: stop, document, notify client and facility lead, notify insurer. Do not proceed silently.

Transfer receipt signed by both parties with timestamp

Visual inspection documented — container integrity, seals, any visible damage

Cleanroom class at facility confirmed against payload requirements

Sidereal representative present for unpacking and initial inspection

Integration Phase

ICD final verification — physical interface confirmed against signed ICD

Deployment switch / inhibit verification — payload safe for launch configuration

Electrical interface check with aggregator / dispenser complete

Final mass properties measurement taken and documented

Payload accepted into dispenser — aggregator acceptance signed

Chain of custody transferred to aggregator — transfer receipt executed

Exceedance Protocol

IF DATA LOGGER SHOWS EXCEEDANCE ON ARRIVAL: 1. Do NOT open container or proceed with integration 2. Photograph and document logger readout immediately 3. Notify client mission lead within 1 hour 4. Notify integration facility lead 5. Notify insurance broker — prompt notification required by most policies 6. Await engineering disposition from client team 7. Document ALL decisions and actions in writing NOTE: Exceedance does not always mean mission failure. Engineering disposition may clear the payload. The process protects everyone. Do not skip steps.

Playbook 05

Partner Engagement

Partner selection and outreach by category. The partner network is Sidereal's long-term competitive moat — every relationship built is capacity we don't have to hire.

Year One Build Sequence

IMMEDIATE — before first client engagement: Export control counsel (space specialist) Space insurance broker (Marsh Space Projects) Primary aggregator relationship (Exolaunch) QUARTER 1: Second aggregator (Spaceflight Inc.) FCC/NOAA regulatory counsel Domestic freight carrier (sensitive cargo certified) Two test facility contacts QUARTER 2: Ground station networks (AWS, Leaf Space, KSAT) International freight forwarder Core technical consultant (systems engineer) YEAR 1 COMPLETION: Mission operations referral partner Rocket Lab direct relationship Full technical consultant bench

Category 1 — Aggregators

First Outreach Rule

Never lead with "I have a client." Lead by demonstrating competence — show you know their PUG, manifest cadence, and dispenser specs. Aggregators have had bad experiences with unprepared brokers. Differentiate by not being that.

Partner	Primary Vehicle	Dispenser	Priority
Exolaunch	SpaceX Transporter	CarboNIX, eXopod	Primary — immediate
Spaceflight Inc.	Multi-vehicle	Sherpa tug	Secondary — Q1
D-Orbit	SpaceX + others	ION carrier	Q2 — precise deployment
Rocket Lab	Electron (dedicated)	Direct	Q2 — dedicated launch

Category 2 — Legal Partners

Two Distinct Relationships Required

Export control counsel and space regulatory counsel are not interchangeable. General counsel is insufficient for either. Establish both before taking a client.

Firm	Specialty	Priority
Akin Gump	Aerospace/defense export — ITAR/EAR specialist	Immediate
Van Ness Feldman	Space regulatory — FCC, FAA, NOAA	Q1
Hogan Lovells	Space and satellite regulatory + export	Q1
Covington & Burling	Space regulatory practice	Q1
Polsinelli	Commercial space — growing practice	Q2

Category 3 — Insurance Brokers

Broker	Notes	Priority
Marsh Space Projects	Dominant player. Lloyd's syndicates. All mission sizes.	Primary — immediate
Aon Space	Major broker. Competitive alternative for client quotes.	Secondary — Q1
Global Aerospace	Boutique. Strong for smaller operators.	Q2

Category 4 — Test Facilities

TVAC Queue Warning

Thermal vacuum booking queues run 3–4 months. Knowing current availability is genuine Sidereal value clients cannot get without relationships.

Facility	Location	Best For
NTS	Multi-US	Commercial, any size, full capability
NASA Goddard	Greenbelt, MD	Academic / gov-adjacent
NASA Ames	Mountain View, CA	West coast clients
Experior Labs	Multi-US	Aerospace certified, commercial

Category 5 — Ground Stations

Provider	Model	Best For	Default?
AWS Ground Station	Pay-per-pass	EO with cloud processing	Yes — commercial EO default
KSAT	Sub / per-pass	High-value, high-reliability	High-value missions
Leaf Space	Per-pass	Small sat, European presence	AWS alternative
SatNOGS	Open source	University / amateur only	University only

Mission Partner Status — Track Per Engagement

Aggregator confirmed — mission manager contact established by name

Export counsel introduced to client

FCC / NOAA regulatory counsel engaged

Insurance broker introduced — TPL quote in process

Test facility booked — all three test types scheduled

Ground freight carrier confirmed for payload transport

Ground station network contracted and tested pre-launch

Mission operations plan confirmed — in-house or contracted partner

Playbook 06

Post-Launch Operations

Activate at separation confirmation. Work through the 72-hour sequence in order. Time stamps matter — document everything.

Pre-Launch Preparation (Complete Before Launch Day)

Space-Track.org client registration confirmed — TLE access ready

space-track.org — gov approval takes ~1 week. Do not leave this to launch week.

Ground station contracted, configured, and tested with simulated pass

Do not discover ground station problems on launch day.

Client mission operations team briefed on early orbit protocol and anomaly escalation

Insurance broker on standby — anomaly notification protocol confirmed with client

Most policies require notification within 24–48 hours of anomaly.

Rideshare TLE ID process explained — expect multi-day delay on rideshare missions

Sidereal mission manager available and reachable for 72 hours post-launch — no travel

72-Hour Sequence

T+0 to T+1 Hour

Separation & Activation

Confirm separation via aggregator mission manager. Document exact time. Satellite begins autonomous activation sequence. Await first AOS window — do not attempt contact before predicted window.

T+1 to T+6 Hours

First AOS Attempt

Monitor ground station on first pass window. If no signal: verify ground station pointing, verify frequency, verify pass prediction accuracy. No signal on first pass is NOT necessarily a failure.

T+6 to T+24 Hours

TLE ID & Contact

Pull TLE from Space-Track when published. On rideshare: correlation process begins — can take 24–72 hours. Brief client — this is normal. Attempt contact on multiple passes.

T+24 to T+48 Hours

Health Verification

Establish stable comms. Confirm: attitude control, power generation (solar + battery), thermal within limits. Begin health telemetry report.

T+48 to T+72 Hours

Payload Commissioning

If bus healthy: begin payload commissioning. Confirm all deployables deployed. Initial telemetry health report delivered to client.

Early Orbit Checklist

Separation confirmed — time documented

Aggregator mission manager notified of separation

TLE pulled from Space-Track when published

First AOS attempt made — result documented (signal / no signal)

If no signal: ground station pointing and frequency verified before declaring anomaly

Stable comms link established — documented with timestamp

Attitude control confirmed

Power generation confirmed — solar panels and battery status

Thermal status confirmed within limits

All deployables confirmed deployed

Initial telemetry health report delivered to client

Insurance broker updated — no anomaly or anomaly notification per policy terms

Anomaly Triage

No signal on first pass — check in order:

01

Ground station pointing: Is the antenna correctly pointed at the predicted satellite position?

02

Frequency: Correct frequency? Check for Doppler shift at pass start/end.

03

Timing: On rideshare, TLE assignment takes 24–72 hours. You may not know which TLE is yours yet.

04

3+ passes, no signal, all verified: Escalate to client engineering team. Do not declare anomaly to insurer until engineering disposition.

ANOMALY CONFIRMED — ESCALATION SEQUENCE: 1. Notify client mission lead immediately — document time 2. Notify insurance broker within policy window (24–48 hrs) 3. Notify aggregator if anomaly may relate to dispenser/separation hardware 4. Document all actions and communications in writing SIDEREAL'S ROLE: Coordinate, facilitate, stay calm. Do not diagnose the spacecraft. The client engineering team diagnoses. We connect them to resources.

Ongoing Support — Post 72 Hours

Conjunction monitoring setup — client pulling CDMs from Space-Track

18th Space Control Squadron provides free CDMs to US operators via space-track.org

FCC reporting schedule confirmed — experimental licenses require periodic reports

NOAA reporting requirements confirmed if applicable

Post-launch retainer agreement in place if ongoing support requested

End-of-life planning initiated — deorbit timeline and passivation procedure confirmed

Service Boundary — Hold This Line

Sidereal facilitates, coordinates, and advises. The client's team operates the satellite. Do not overextend into spacecraft operations — it creates liability without capability.