The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reached a settlement with Dish Network over its failure to properly dispose of the EchoStar-7 broadcast communications satellite, marking the FCC’s first penalty related to space debris. Dish admitted liability and agreed to pay a $150,000 fee. The settlement is deemed a significant step in addressing concerns related to the increasing amount of space debris resulting from the growing number of satellites launched into orbit by governments and companies.
Dish launched the EchoStar-7 satellite in 2002 and intended to retire it in May 2022. However, the company discovered a few months prior that the satellite lacked sufficient fuel to navigate to a disposal location. Dish had previously committed to an “orbital debris mitigation plan” with the FCC, outlining the relocation of the satellite. Instead of retiring the satellite 300 kilometers away from its geostationary orbit location, Dish retired it at approximately 122 kilometers, falling significantly short of the disposal orbit agreed upon.
The FCC sees this settlement as crucial, particularly as satellite operations become more prevalent and the space economy experiences rapid acceleration. The regulator emphasizes the need to ensure that satellite operators adhere to their commitments to prevent the creation of additional space debris. Dish Network has not provided immediate comments on the settlement.
