- For the first time, the United States has fined a company $150,000 for “leaving space junk” in Earth orbit.
- The company accepted responsibility for space debris that would normally have to be transported 300 kilometers from Earth orbit.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fined Dish Network $150,000 for an outdated satellite. The reason for the penalty for the satellite is that this old satellite has now become “space debris”.
Unused pieces in Earth’s orbit that are at risk of collision are considered space debris (or space debris). Generally, this debris consists of things like parts of old satellites and spacecraft.
Dish Network acknowledged its responsibility for its EchoStar-7 satellite, which polluted and endangered space, and agreed on a “compliance plan” with the FCC.
The FCC said Dish Network’s satellite poses a potential risk to other satellites orbiting Earth at its current altitude.
Is it possible not to create space debris?
Definitely yes. Although a satellite or a vehicle is launched into Earth orbit, it is possible to remove it from Earth orbit after its mission is completed and not pollute the orbit, and this should be done by companies.
Dish Network was supposed to move this old satellite 300 kilometers from Earth, but at the end of its life in 2022, it was only able to move it 122 kilometers after losing fuel.
Earth orbit gets more polluted every day
According to NASA, there are more than 25,000 pieces of space debris exceeding 10 cm in length. It is estimated that more than 10,000 satellites have been launched into space since the first satellite was launched in 1957, and more than half of them are currently out of use.
NASA boss Bill Nelson has said in recent months that space debris is a “big problem”, meaning the International Space Station needs to be moved out of the way of flying debris.
Humanity has polluted every corner of the world it could reach since its existence. We have caused the atmosphere to thin, the extinction of living species, the cultivation of unqualified food, and the creation of extremely unhealthy living conditions. Just as we pollute every corner we reach, unfortunately, we also pollute the space we have just begun to reach.
Compiled by: Ömer Kağan Selen
