US Government Imposes First-Ever Fine for Space Junk on Dish Network

In a historic move, the United States government has issued its inaugural fine to a company for failing to address the issue of space junk orbiting the Earth. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has penalized Dish Network with a fine of $150,000 (£125,000) for its failure to move an old satellite far enough away from active satellites in orbit. As part of the settlement, Dish Network accepted liability regarding its EchoStar-7 satellite and has agreed to a “compliance plan” with the FCC.

Space junk, officially known as space debris, comprises defunct technological remnants orbiting the Earth. This space waste includes outdated satellites and discarded spacecraft components, posing a potential collision risk with operational satellites. The FCC determined that Dish Network’s EchoStar-7 satellite, originally launched in 2002, was positioned in geostationary orbit, which begins at 22,000 miles (36,000 km) above Earth’s surface. The company was obligated to relocate the satellite 186 miles further away from Earth, but due to fuel loss at the end of its operational life in 2022, it had moved it only 76 miles.

Loyaan Egal, chief of the FCC’s enforcement bureau, emphasized the importance of ensuring that satellite operators adhere to their commitments as satellite operations become more prevalent and the space economy accelerates. Egal stated, “This is a breakthrough settlement, making very clear the FCC has strong enforcement authority and capability to enforce its vitally important space debris rules.”

While the $150,000 fine represents a small fraction of Dish Network’s total revenue, which reached $16.7 billion in 2022, it may have a broader impact on the satellite industry. Dr. Megan Argo, senior lecturer in astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire, noted that the use of regulatory powers by the FCC for the first time is likely to draw the attention of the entire industry. She explained, “The fact that they’ve actually used their regulatory powers for the first time is certainly likely to at least make the rest of the industry sit up and pay attention. The fact that they have used it once means that they are likely to use it again.”

The escalating issue of space debris has become a significant concern, considering that more than 10,000 satellites have been launched into space since the first one in 1957, with over half of them now inactive. According to NASA, there are over 25,000 pieces of space debris measuring more than 10 cm in length. The growing volume of space debris has prompted actions such as the International Space Station being maneuvered to avoid potential collisions with debris flying past. Even small objects, like a paint chip, can pose fatal risks to astronauts during spacewalks due to their high orbital speeds.

As space activities continue to expand, addressing the issue of space debris becomes paramount to prevent collisions and the creation of further debris in orbit. The FCC’s enforcement action against Dish Network is a significant step towards enforcing compliance with space debris rules and ensuring the sustainability of activities in space.