Dish Network, a leading satellite TV provider, has made telecommunications history, although it’s not an accomplishment the company is likely to boast about. According to the BBC, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has imposed a $150,000 penalty on the company, marking the agency’s first-ever fine related to space debris. The fine was issued because Dish Network’s EchoStar-7 satellite, launched in 2002, fell more than 100 miles short of its designated “junk” or “graveyard” orbit at the end of its operational life.
The satellite was supposed to be moved 186 miles away from its orbit, but it ran out of propellant after covering a distance of only 76 miles in 2022. This left the satellite low enough to pose a potential risk to other satellites. Although this is the first time a company has been fined for leaving debris in space, it is unlikely to be the last, warns the FCC.
“As satellite operations become more prevalent and the space economy accelerates, we must ensure that operators adhere to their commitments,” said Loyaan Egal, the FCC’s enforcement bureau chief, in a statement quoted by CBS News. He added, “This breakthrough settlement establishes the FCC’s strong enforcement authority and capability to enforce its vitally important space debris rules.” Industry analysts suggest that while the fine represents only a fraction of Dish Network’s $17 billion annual revenue, its issuance serves as a wake-up call for other companies. (Read more space junk stories.)
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