FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel wants the agency to update its orbital debris mitigation rules. That’s another way of saying cleaning up the mess after an accidental satellite explosion in space.
She proposed to her colleagues adding a specific, quantitative metric that satellites must meet. If adopted, the updated rules would require satellite applicants to assess and limit the probability of debris-generating accidental explosions to be less than one in 1,000 for each satellite.
Derived from NASA’s standard, the metric would apply during and after mission operations are completed. Current FCC rules only require satellite licensees to affirm they’ve effectively mitigated the risk of debris-generating explosions in space.
“We can no longer afford to launch new satellites into our skies without being thoughtful about space sustainability,” said Rosenworcel. “Our orbital debris mitigation efforts will help preserve the orbital environment to protect services we rely on and allow new services to be launched.”
The agency says the probability metric in the Third Report and Order (R&O) would provide satellite operators an “objective and transparent benchmark” for demonstrating as part of their applications to the Commission that they have assessed and limited the probability of accidental explosions during and after mission operations are completed.
If approved, the new requirement would be phased in one year after its publication in the Federal Register to enable potential applicants to prepare. It would apply to applications filed after or still pending when the rules go into effect, notes SpaceNews.
The R&O circulated this week is part of the Commission’s efforts to mitigate the generation of orbital debris because of the increasing number of satellites in orbit. For example, Inside Towers reported the agency recently voted to require satellite operators to deorbit an out of commission satellite within five years, as opposed to the former 25-year timeline.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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