As more companies look to offer space-based services, space junk is likely to pile up. Fines will ensure that the industry works to clear the mess it is making too.

US imposes $150,000 fine on Dish Network for space debris::undefined

    • Dizzy Devil Ducky@lemm.eeEnglish
      4·
      2 years ago

      Yeah! They definitely will learn when they have to pay less than a percent of their total revenue in 2022!

      /s

    • unphazed@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      2 years ago

      I don’t really get why they got fined when they did the best they could. The satellite was launched 20 years before the law was in effect. It’s not like they knew that in 20 years they would need x amount of fuel (though to be fair, it probably would have been about 150k in extra cost back then)

      • hyperhopper@lemmy.mlEnglish
        2·
        2 years ago

        Agreed about them doing nothing against the law in the past.

        But against your last anecdote: 150k now is worth more than having to maybe pay 150k later

  • scala@lemmy.mlEnglish
    112·
    2 years ago

    Okay but at least they have their dishes out there for 20+ years. While musk has his starlink for 4 years before self destructing in the atmosphere. Why not fine him for wasting resources and have his dishes last 15-20years

    • rtxn@lemmy.worldEnglish
      17·
      2 years ago

      End-of-life satellites must either be deorbited or moved to a graveyard orbit. The issue isn’t about wasted resources - it’s having inert, untrackable debris in an orbit that could be used by others, rendering it useless and dangerous. It’s not an issue for Starlink because they encounter a much greater atmospheric drag compared to most telecommunication satellites, so that issue is fixed with time.

  • foggy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    I wonder if the folks of DISH, TX are still happy about the deal they made.