The increasing amount of waste in space is becoming an increasing problem. Although this has had no real consequences so far, the winds of change are now blowing. For the first time, US authorities have fined a satellite operator for unlawfully abandoning space debris.
The responsible communications authority, the FCC, imposed a fine of 150,000 dollars (more than 140,000 euros) on satellite TV provider Dish on Monday (local time). According to the authority, the company failed to place the EchoStar-7 satellite, in service since 2002, into the agreed orbit at the end of its operational life.
Satellites ran out of fuel
According to the FCC, Dish agreed in 2012 to place the satellite in an orbit 190 miles above its current orbit at the end of its mission. As the satellite ran out of fuel, it was eventually placed into orbit just 77 miles (122 kilometers) above its previous orbit.
“As satellite deployments increase and the space economy accelerates, we must be sure operators are meeting their obligations,” said FCC Representative Loyaan A. Egal. The settlement now reached with Dish, which includes the fine, is a “breakthrough” and makes it clear that the FCC can enforce the important rules for handling space debris.
Debris is a hazard
Dish said Tuesday that it has a long history of “safely” deploying a large fleet of satellites and that it takes its obligations seriously. The FCC has not declared that EchoStar-7 poses a danger.
According to estimates by the European Space Agency (ESA), there are approximately one million pieces of space debris larger than one centimeter in space around Earth. The debris poses a danger to satellites and human spaceflight.
Source: Krone
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