The US Federal Communications Commission has announced its first penalty involving apace debris after reaching a settlement with Dish Network.
The satellite operator has admitted liability after admitting liability for failing to dispose of its EchoStar-7 broadcast communications satellite. It has now agreed to a compliance plan and pay a $150,000 (€143,000) fine.
FCC’s investigation found that the company violated the Communications Act, the FCC rules, and the terms of the company’s licence by relocating EchoStar-7 at the satellite’s end-of-mission to a disposal orbit well below the elevation required by the terms of its licence.
“As satellite operations become more prevalent and the space economy accelerates, we must be certain that operators comply with their commitments,” said Enforcement Bureau Chief Loyaan A. Egal. “This is a breakthrough settlement, making very clear the FCC has strong enforcement authority and capability to enforce its vitally important space debris rules.”
DISH launched EchoStar-7 satellite in 2002. In an orbital debris mitigation plan later filed by DISH, and approved by the Commission in 2012, the company committed to bring the satellite at the end of its mission to an altitude of 300km above its operational geostationary arc.
In subsequent filings with the FCC, DISH estimated that, based on the remaining fuel and projected operational parameters, the satellite’s end-of-mission deorbit maneuvers would take place in May 2022.
However, in February 2022, DISH determined that the satellite had very little propellant left, which meant it could not follow the original orbital debris mitigation plan in its licence. DISH ultimately retired the satellite at a disposal orbit approximately 122km above the geostationary arc, well short of the disposal orbit of 300 km specified in its orbital debris mitigation plan.
