US imposes $150,000 fine for space debris in world-first
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US regulators have imposed a $150,000 (around €140,000 or £125,000) fine on a private company for failing to remove a satellite from orbit in what is believed to be the world’s first space debris enforcement action.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said TV company DISH had agreed to pay the penalty as part of a settlement following an investigation into its failure to properly deorbit its direct broadcast satellite (DBS) service EchoStar-7 satellite.
The FCC’s investigation found that the company had violated US law, FCC rules and the terms of its license by relocating the satellite at its end-of-mission to a disposal orbit well below the elevation required by the terms of its license, where it poses orbital debris concerns.
The satellite, which was launched in 2002, was retired at a disposal orbit approximately 122 km above the geostationary arc, well short of the disposal orbit of 300 km specified in its orbital debris mitigation plan.
Loyaan A. Egal, chief of the FCC’s enforcement bureau, said: “As satellite operations become more prevalent and the space economy accelerates, we must be certain that operators comply with their commitments.
“This is a breakthrough settlement, making very clear the FCC has strong enforcement authority and capability to enforce its vitally important space debris rules.”
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