US issues first ever fine for space junk to Dish Network (www.bbc.com)
from Wilshire@lemmy.ml to technology@lemmy.ml on 03 Oct 2023 20:51
https://lemmy.ml/post/5959891

#technology

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autotldr@lemmings.world on 03 Oct 2023 20:55 next collapse

This is the best summary I could come up with:

The US government has issued its first ever fine to a company for leaving space junk orbiting the Earth.

The Federal Communications Commission fined Dish Network $150,000 (£125,000) for failing to move an old satellite far enough away from others in use.

Space junk is made up bits of tech that are in orbit around the Earth but are no longer in use, and risk collisions.

Officially called space debris, it includes things like old satellites and parts of spacecraft.

“The more things we have in orbit, the more risk there is of collisions, causing high-speed debris,” said Dr Megan Argo, senior lecturer in astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire.

"Even a paint chip… coming in the wrong direction at orbital speed, which is 17,500 miles an hour [could] hit an astronaut doing a spacewalk.

The original article contains 402 words, the summary contains 136 words. Saved 66%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

venoft@lemmy.world on 04 Oct 2023 14:56 collapse

So they got fined 150k for not bringing enough fuel. How much would the extra fuel (and larger fuel tank) cost? Probably more than 150k…

MeatballFlag@lemmy.sdf.org on 04 Oct 2023 17:45 collapse

As per usual, the fine becomes simply the cost of doing business

neekz0r@lemmy.ml on 05 Oct 2023 00:37 collapse

It’s the equivalent of a $0.52 fine if you earn $60k a year.

cheese_greater@lemmy.world on 03 Oct 2023 21:23 next collapse

In a recent legal filing, Dish Network decried recent statements and fines levied by the US Government, tersely responding “Aiyeee, you sunk our battleship!”

/s

Zellith@kbin.social on 04 Oct 2023 00:47 next collapse

Companies should be fined based on how long an object is cluttering space. Billed monthly. One time fees hardly seem appropriate.

PowerCrazy@lemmy.ml on 04 Oct 2023 03:06 collapse

Fines aren’t actually sufficient. It should be criminal charges to past and current executives for ruining our safe orbital space, and if you are are doomer, for contributing to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome .

Basically force the people who ultimately are responsible for cost saving measures to have skin in the game.

Haui@discuss.tchncs.de on 04 Oct 2023 09:00 collapse

This actually applies to everything that has long lasting consequences. Pumping poison in our lakes, rivers and air, making to be trashed devices…

jandro@lemmy.world on 04 Oct 2023 02:24 collapse

Dish was meant to move the satellite 186 miles further from Earth, but at the end of its life in 2022 had moved it only 76 miles after it lost fuel.

Not even half way to where it should have been! I wonder where the calculation for fuel went wrong