A company was fined for violating the agreement on handling space debris.

This satellite could raise concerns about space junk.

On October 2, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced its decision to fine Dish, a television company, $150,000 for failing to properly dispose of expired satellites.

About 1 million pieces of debris larger than 1cm, large enough to 'disable spacecraft', are in Earth orbit. (Source: Broadcastprome)

This is the first typical fine that US authorities have imposed to handle a case of violating regulations on handling space debris.

According to the FCC, Dish has owned a satellite called EchoStar-7 in orbit since 2002. When this geostationary satellite ended its operational life, Dish moved the satellite to a lower altitude than the two parties had agreed upon, so the satellite could raise concerns about space debris.

Dish pledged to raise the satellite to an altitude of 300km in geostationary orbit in 2012, but when its fuel ran low, Dish decommissioned the satellite at an altitude of just over 120km above that orbit, the commission said.

The FCC said the fine will resolve Dish’s wrongdoing, force the company to admit liability, and comply with the agreement. Dish has not yet commented on the information.

The European Space Agency estimates that there are about 1 million pieces of debris larger than 1cm, large enough to “disable spacecraft,” in Earth’s orbit. Space junk has caused problems ranging from a near-collision involving a Chinese satellite last January to a 5mm hole in the robotic arm of the International Space Station in 2021.

With satellites now crucial to the Global Positioning System (GPS), broadband and banking data, collisions pose a significant risk on Earth.

(Source: vietnamplus)

Source: https://vtc.vn/vi-pham-thoa-thuan-xu-ly-rac-vu-tru-mot-cong-ty-cua-my-bi-xu-phat-ar824733.html