orbital debris
Office of Space Commerce: FCC “aggressively” pushing limits of authority with orbital debris rule
The FCC’s adoption of a new rule for disposal of low Earth orbit satellites is well-intentioned but pushing the limits of its authority, says the director of the Office of Space Commerce.
FCC approves new orbital debris rule
The FCC adopted a new rule Sept. 29 that will shorten the time for satellite operators to deorbit low Earth orbit satellites from 25 to 5 years.
House committee questions FCC orbital debris rule
Ahead of a Federal Communications Commission vote on a proposal to set a five-year deadline for deorbiting low Earth orbit satellites, leaders of the House Science Committee are questioning the FCC’s authority to do so.
FCC to set five-year deadline for deorbiting LEO satellites
The FCC wants to require operators of low Earth orbit satellites to deorbit their spacecraft within five years after their mission ends, a much shorter timeframe than currently required.
Kayhan updates Pathfinder spaceflight safety platform
Spaceflight safety startup Kayhan Space is broadening its product line to address collision threats for launch vehicles and satellites with or without propulsion.
NASA cubesat bumped from rideshare launch because of orbital debris mitigation concerns
A NASA cubesat was removed from a recent rideshare launch opportunity on a U.S. Space Force mission because the spacecraft could not meet guidelines for deorbiting at the end of its life.
Tracking debris and space traffic a growing challenge for U.S. military
Gen. James Dickinson, head uf U.S. Space Command, said space traffic management should be transferred to a civilian agency as soon as possible
Starlink satellites encounter Russian ASAT debris squalls
Debris from a Russian antisatellite weapon demonstration that caused “squalls” of close approaches to satellites earlier this year is now affecting a new series of Starlink satellites.
House appropriators partially restore funding for planetary defense mission
House appropriators partially restored funding for a planetary defense mission as part of a spending bill while also raising concerns about NASA’s closure of an airborne observatory and plans to return samples from Mars.
India hit by more suspected space debris
Indian authorities are examining several pieces of suspected space debris that fell into rural western India on May 12, with the timing of the incident suggesting they could be parts of a Chinese rocket that reentered the atmosphere that day.
Space Force selects 125 industry proposals for on-orbit servicing technologies
SpaceWERX selected 125 industry teams for the initial phase of the Orbital Prime program, an effort to develop technologies for orbital debris removal and other space services.
India examining crashed space debris suspected to be parts of China’s Long March rocket
India’s space agency is examining a large metal ring and a cylinder-like object that fell into rural western India April 2, with a preliminary investigation suggesting they could be parts of a Chinese space rocket’s upper stage that reentered the atmosphere that day.
U.S. declares ban on anti-satellite missile tests, calls for other nations to join
Vice President Kamala Harris announced April 18 that the United States will ban direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile tests that create orbital debris.
Op-ed | Russian aggression underscores need for greater U.S. space leadership
In light of Russia’s reckless behavior, which even endangered its cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station, the U.S. and European roles in space governance become more imperative.
Op-ed | The challenges of space traffic management
Millions of pieces of orbital debris big enough to harm satellites but too tiny to track threaten "permanent stability and safety in orbit."
U.S. intelligence wants to track currently undetectable orbital space debris
The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity in a request for information asks for 'innovative approaches to detect and track currently undetectable orbital space debris'
Space Force eager to invest in debris removal projects
The Space Force wants to partner with private companies on debris removal initiatives, said vice chief of space operations Gen. David “DT” Thompson.
Space debris expert warns U.S. ‘woefully behind’ in efforts to clean up junk in orbit
The United States is a space superpower but is not doing as much as other nations to solve the problem of orbital debris, an industry expert said Jan. 6.
Space Force wants to help fund technologies to recycle, reuse or remove space debris
Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David Thompson in a video released Jan. 5 called on the private sector to help clean up space junk.
NASA postpones ISS spacewalk because of debris
NASA postponed a spacewalk outside the International Space Station by two astronauts just hours before it was scheduled to start after getting a warning that debris would pass close to the station.
