The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made history by levying the first-ever fine on a firm for violating its anti-space debris law. Dish Network was fined $150,000 by the FCC on Monday (October 1) for failing to properly de-orbit its EchoStar-7 satellite, which had been in orbit for almost two decades.
Rather than following proper de-orbit procedures, Dish placed the satellite in a “disposal orbit” at an altitude that increased the risk of orbital debris.
The Importance of Space Debris Rules
In an interview with the Guardian, Loyaan A. Egal, Chief of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, emphasized the importance of enforcing space debris restrictions, especially as satellite operations become increasingly prevalent in the burgeoning space economy.
Egal remarked that this settlement is a game-changer, demonstrating the FCC’s strong enforcement authority and ability to enforce vital space debris rules.
In 2002, Dish Network launched the EchoStar-7 satellite into geostationary orbit, a location 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above Earth’s surface. Dish announced an orbital debris reduction plan in 2012, promising that once its mission was completed, the EchoStar-7 satellite would be moved to a “graveyard orbit” 186 miles (300 kilometers) above its initial position. This strategic transfer was undertaken to guarantee that the satellite did not endanger other functioning satellites.
However, in 2022, Dish ran out of propellant in the satellite, rendering it unable to reach its planned destination. As a result, the satellite was positioned only 76 miles (122 kilometers) above active geostationary orbit zones, deviating from its planned orbit by 178 kilometers.
Concerns about space debris raised by the FCC
The FCC has identified space debris as a major hazard, roughly defined as artificial objects orbiting Earth that are no longer viable spacecraft.
According to the FCC, the accumulation of old materials in orbit might stymie the launch and successful execution of new satellite missions. In response to these concerns, the FCC enacted a regulation in 2022 requiring satellite operators to decommission their satellites within five years following mission completion.
