Space Debris, Regulatory Action, and Satellite Safety in North America

For the first time in history, U.S. authorities fined a company for space debris. The Federal Communications Commission fined Dish $150,000 for failing to properly deorbit the EchoStar-7 satellite, which was launched in 2002. Information published on the FCC website. This marks a milestone in space governance, showing that regulators are willing to hold operators accountable for debris in orbit. Dish had previously pledged in 2012 to elevate EchoStar-7 by 300 kilometers above its existing path, yet the satellite carried enough fuel to climb only 120 kilometers. The commission described the case as a groundbreak­ing decision that demonstrates the government’s authority to address orbital debris and its potential hazards. The European Space Agency notes that roughly a million pieces of debris larger than one centimeter currently orbit Earth, enough to threaten any spacecraft that encounters them. In today’s world, satellites play a crucial role in navigation, broadband communications, and financial networks, making debris and collision risks a matter of broad public interest. Scientists have long warned about the danger of large-scale accidents in orbit given the rising number of spacecraft and the crowded environment around Earth. This is a reality that resonates in Canada and the United States alike, where commercial operators, government agencies, and researchers continue to monitor debris levels and refine avoidance measures to protect critical assets in space and on the ground.