NSF SpectrumX invites you to the next Radio Shop Chat, “An Overview of Lunar Spectrum Planning,” featuring Cathy Sham on Wednesday, June 10 at 3 p.m. ET.
Registration is required and free.
Abstract
With the return of humans to cislunar space marked by the successful Artemis II mission in April, and several commercial lunar landers slated for launch in the near future, 2026 is already shaping up to be a landmark year for lunar exploration and science. NASA’s Lunar and Human Spaceflight Spectrum Manager, Cathy Sham, has been working alongside commercial and international experts in space communications, science, and spectrum planning to develop a rational, efficient, and effective spectrum architecture. This effort aims to ensure a vibrant ecosystem in which science instruments and communications infrastructure are both compatible and interoperable.
In this talk, Sham will discuss international technical collaborations to design and refine a sustainable frequency architecture; initiatives at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to recognize scientific applications of spectrum use in the lunar vicinity; and ongoing efforts to coordinate spectrum usage among lunar mission operators prior to formal regulatory filings for spectrum licenses.
Speaker Bio
Cathy Sham is NASA’s lunar and human spaceflight spectrum manager. She is widely recognized as an expert in both the regulatory and analytical aspects of spectrum management, particularly as they relate to human spaceflight, domestic and international spectrum regulations, NASA’s international partner agencies, and private-sector space endeavors. Her expertise in spectrum policy, systems engineering, and modeling and simulation continues to support NASA’s operational and development programs, while advancing the broader mandate of enabling space commerce.
Sham also serves as Chair of the ITU- Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Working Party 7B (space radiocommunication applications), as well as Chair of the Lunar-Martian Spectrum Group within the Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG). In these roles, she contributes to both technical planning and policy development for next-generation space communications networks, commercial transportation and crew services, and commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) destination programs.
Sham holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematical Sciences, and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rice University.