US FCC adopts first ever space junk rule for satellites

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The US Federal Communications Commission adopted a new rule governing satellites on Thursday, requiring operators to deorbit satellites within five years of them ending their mission. “There is no reason to wait that long anymore, especially in low-Earth orbit.” The new rule is necessary, Ms Rosenworcel added, to combat the growing problem of space debris in low Earth orbit. Because if we don’t, this space junk could constrain new opportunities.” While the FCC does not directly regulate satellites in orbit — no US regulator currently has such authority, as the Federal Aviation Administration only grants permits for rocket launches and reentries, not orbital flight — US operators must apply with the FCC for permission to use radio frequencies with their satellites. In a thread on Twitter, Dr Lewis shared data suggesting that while a five-year deorbit rule could reduce the number of potential collisions between satellites at higher altitudes, “we don’t see in these results is a significant reduction in close approaches or collisions at the altitudes currently being dominated by commercial space industry and human spaceflight”.