The US Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) has issued the first - ever fine for failing to decent incline of space junk .
In 2002 , DISH web plunge its EchoStar-7 satellite . Ten years later , it filed a program with the FCC for decommissioning the orbiter at the end of its mission . This plan involved move the artificial satellite 300 kilometers ( 186 miles ) above its operating orbit , to understate theever - growing riskof outer space junk collision .
DISH had estimated that it would perform the maneuver in May 2022 , free-base on how much fuel it had continue , and the planet ’s functional lifespan . But in February 2022 , they understand the satellite did not have enough fuel to take it out to the orbit they had committed to and end up decommission the artificial satellite in an compass 122 kilometers ( 76 naut mi ) above its original scope .
DISH nail down with the FCC , admitting liability and agreeing to pay $ 150,000 . We may see more fines in coming years , as low - Earth orbit fills up .
“ As satellite mathematical operation become more prevalent and the place economy accelerates , we must be certain that operators follow with their commitments , ” Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan A. Egal said in astatement . “ This is a breakthrough colony , making very clean the FCC has stiff enforcement authority and capability to implement its vitally important space debris rule . ”
Why is the FCC cracking down on this ? Well , as mentioned above , low - ground orbit is occupy up , and there have been some clean haired incident in which the International Space Station has had to make maneuvers in club toavoid dust .
One tenacious - condition concern about the debris is that it could have the " Kessler Effect " ( or Kessler Syndrome ) .
Simply put , the Kessler Effect is where a single event ( such as an detonation of a artificial satellite ) in low - Earth arena create a chain response as junk destroys other artificial satellite in sphere . Should this happen , the debris could keep clash with other planet or other detritus , potentially have communication problem and leave areas of space untouchable to spacecraft .
Essentially , it could end up like the filmGravity , but with less George Clooney and more " Hey what encounter to my GPS " . At worst , some mull it could essentiallytrap us here on Earth , ineffectual to leave .
