US Federal Aviation Administration Proposes Regulations for Commercial Space Debris Cleanup
FAA requires space companies to take responsibility for space debris disposal
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has introduced new regulations mandating commercial space companies to tackle the issue of space debris themselves. In a bid to mitigate the growing concern of space debris, the FAA has laid out five options for space companies to dispose of the debris.
Under the proposed regulations, space companies are given the choice to either launch the debris into orbit or destroy it in the Earth’s atmosphere within 25 years of the spacecraft’s launch, as reported by Bloomberg News on June 20th.
The popularity of space travel and the growing presence of satellites in orbit have led to a significant increase in the number of objects surrounding our planet. Since 2019, the number of operational satellites has quadrupled, creating a crowded orbital environment. While the US Department of Defense has identified and tracked approximately 27,000 pieces of debris orbiting Earth, experts estimate that there are millions more that remain untracked due to limitations in sensor technology.
Space debris poses a significant risk to other orbiting objects such as satellites, potentially resulting in collisions and disruption to vital services provided by these satellites. The FAA’s proposed regulations are a proactive response to address these concerns and ensure the safety and functionality of space operations.
“Failure to take action on orbital debris accumulation will significantly escalate the risks associated with collisions involving human spaceflight, communication infrastructure, weather forecasting, and GPS services,” warns the FAA.
Public comment on the proposed rules will remain open for 90 days following their publication in the Federal Register.
Conceptual diagram of space debris orbiting the Earth [사진: NASA]
[디지털투데이 AI리포터] The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed regulations that would require commercial space companies to clean up space debris themselves.
According to the regulations, the FAA provides space companies with five options for disposing of debris, including sending it into orbit or destroying it in the atmosphere within 25 years of the spacecraft’s launch, Bloomberg News reported on the 20th (local time).
The orbital environment around Earth is becoming increasingly crowded. The number of operational satellites has more or less quadrupled since 2019. The US Department of Defense tracks more than 27,000 pieces of debris in Earth’s orbit, but says there are millions more that sensors cannot track.
Such space debris can collide with and interfere with other objects that provide services in space, such as satellites. The proposed new regulations also came about after industry officials considered how to deal with space debris.
“If left unattended, the accumulation of orbital debris will increase orbital risks, including collisions with satellites that provide human spaceflight, communications, weather and GPS services,” the FAA said.
The proposed rule will begin public comment for 90 days after publication in the Federal Register.
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