Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has caught the attention of many with her proposal on managing space debris in the United States which was presented on May 29.
Rosenworcel’s proposal involves issuing launch permits only when the risk of a satellite exploding spontaneously in orbit is less than 1 in 1,000. This probability is based on NASA’s standards, she clarified.
This specific probability is not stipulated in the current regulations. If this proposal is approved, companies or organizations applying for a satellite launch permit will have to prove that the possibility of their satellite exploding in orbit is less than 1 in 1,000.
“Introducing this specific probability indicator will enhance the FCC’s response to the issue of space debris,” said Rosenworcel. For this proposal to be approved, a majority of the five FCC commissioners must agree. If approved, it is expected to take effect one year after being announced in the Federal Register.
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