Mitigation of Orbital Debris

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopts a Second Report and Order that amends the Commission's rules to minimize the amount of orbital debris created by satellite systems and to mitigate the effects of orbital debris on operational spacecraft. Orbital debris consists of man-made objects that are not functioning spacecraft. Although orbital debris currently poses little short-term risk to operational spacecraft, an increase in orbital debris could have a significant impact in the long term on space activities, including important satellite communications. Adoption of these rules will help preserve the United States' continued affordable access to space, the continued provision of reliable U.S. space-based services-- including communications and remote sensing satellite services for U.S. commercial, government, and homeland security purposes--as well as the continued safety of persons and property in space and on the surface of the Earth. Adoption of these rules will also further the domestic policy objective of the United States to minimize the creation of orbital debris and is consistent with international policies and initiatives to achieve this goal.