Will I need a permit to launch my own personal spy satellite into space?

Question

Will I need to do anything before I launch it into space or are there procedures I need to follow? If so, what are they?

Answer 1

yes, you will need the permit.

But once you have all the money necesary to design and build the satellite, rocket, and launch platform, you should have plenety left over to buy the permit.

Your best best is to contact the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States.  They control EVERYTHING that passes through the United States Atmosphere.

If you're not in the US, there are similar organizations in other countries, and the FAA will know how to contact them.

Answer 2

Well now Dr. Evil, its not much of a "spy satellite" if your going on and blabbering it to the whole world now is it?

I mean really. If you want to spy, its best to keep that a secret. Now everybody will anticipate your launch and blow your satellite out of the sky before it can reach a suitable orbit. And what then...you just blew $7.42 for a lousy fireworks show you could have gotten for free anywhere in the US on the 4th of July.

EDIT:

;))

Answer 3

If you can afford to launch/orbit a satellite,acquiring the necessary norad and FAA permits will be a very moot point

price to place a micro sat in orbit using a thor: $22.4 million

pulling this off:: priceless

Answer 4

That is a slight bit creepy and a slight bit unsanitary.

Answer 5

Yes, you need an FAA space launch permit, either Commercial or Experimental.  This follows naturally from the fact that a powered spacecraft must first be a powered aircraft.  But it also follows from the obligation of the U.S. government to regulate the activities of its citizens in the use of space, for which purpose international agreements are in force, and to which the U.S. is party.

Contrary to the ignorant foaming about the government "taking away" your launch equipment, private companies secure such permits all the time.  Most space launches today are commercial in nature (or experimental, in advance of commerce), not as part of any government activity.  As a matter of fact, NASA itself contracts private launch services.

Spy satellites rely on substantial optical assemblies.  Acuity depends strictly upon the size of the primary reflector or refractor, and secondarily upon the rigidity of the supporting structure.  These substantial constructions require heavy-lift launch vehicles to put them even into low Earth orbit.  Heavy-lift launch capacity does not come cheaply.

Answer 6

No.

There are air launch (Pegasus) and balloon launch (Huntsville L5 society), and sea launch (Boeing) that can be launched from international waters.  Who would you get permission from?  I conclude you don't need it.  But you might want to send a note to NORAD and tell them what's up, so they don't accidentally do something stupid.

The Canadians launched their 6" briefcase sized space telescope MOST into orbit for $10 million.  That's the cheapest you can expect.

Answer 7

Yes.  The FAA would be all over your case if you attempted a launch without the proper paperwork.  And I wouldn't wait up for your permission.  Especially if you live in the city or suburbs.  The authorities frown on rocket launches from highly populated areas. Setting several square miles of homes and families on fire is considered a major faux pas.  I would suggest spending a couple hundred million and have Russia launch it for you. While that might require some bribes, you could skip most of the US government paperwork.  Its probably considerably cheaper than you could build your own rocket for.  And Russian boosters are known for their reliability.  

Answer 8

If any of us little no-account people manages to command the energy necessary to launch anything into orbit, or even the resources to begin a project intended to do so, the government will step in and take those resources away from us and slap our faces good. Even if we came by it all in an honest and legal manner.

The laws are meant to keep us down, not to keep us safe. Anyone who thinks otherwise simply is not wise in the character of the modern industrial state.

Answer 9

Of course you do. You need a signed release from everyone on the planet you will actually or potentially spy on.

(And I will not sign mine, so you're grounded!)