US space sustainability legislation to shape activity in space industry: GlobalData

Following the news that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a $150,000 dollar fine to Dish Network for leaving space debris in orbit, GlobalData’s Associate Defense Analyst James Marques, noted: “One organization’s space debris is everyone’s problem. Collisions and interference from debris can have expensive and dangerous consequences that transcend national boundaries. As human activity in space grows, a regulatory regime for sustainable practices in orbit will have to emerge to protect assets and life. Its international nature makes it difficult to enforce regulations in space, but the FCC can make headway in normalizing best practices. “Debris removal and mitigation is set to emerge as a major segment within the space industry, with firms such as Astroscale and ClearSpace pioneering novel technology solutions to physically remove debris from orbit, or even refuel and service active satellites. “Extending spacecraft service life can cut costs in space operations and mitigates the ‘junk’ coming from defunct craft waiting to de-orbit. The ambition and innovation seen in planning missions such as these define much of the so-called ‘New Space’ companies that emerged in the last two decades to challenge established aerospace primes in innovating and progressing commercial use of space. GlobalData’s Space Sustainability report details the impact of space debris and the commercial landscape surrounding sustainable practices in space.”