Dish Network Corp. has become the first company to face an enforcement action for littering in outer space.
The FCC found that the company retired the EchoStar-7 satellite last year by leaving it to float in orbit in a location well below the elevation required by the terms of its license. Companies are required to remove such retired equipment out of the path of working satellites.“As satellite operations become more prevalent and the space economy accelerates, we must be certain that operators comply with their commitments,” said Loyaan A. Egal, the FCC’s enforcement bureau chief.
Space debris has become a worry as more objects are being placed into orbit now than ever before, according to the Federation of American Scientists. The list includes spent rocket boosters, as well as active and dead satellites.