FCC says new age space rules are subject to review

The FCC said it will begin the process of reviewing outdated rules on space waste disposal and other issues in space.

In a statement, it said the investigation will look at refueling satellites, inspecting and repairing spacecraft in orbit, and capturing and removing debris and transforming materials through in-space manufacturing.

The agency’s chief, Jessica Rosenworsel, told reporters Friday after the FCC’s unanimous 4-0 vote that the rules currently in place were “largely built for another era.”

Rosenworcel said the FCC needs to make sure the rules are “prepared for satellite deployments in orbit and new activities at our higher altitudes.”

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The leader said the FCC is focusing on servicing, assembly and manufacturing in space (ISAM).

“Today’s work continues in these modernization efforts, as space service, assembly, and manufacturing capabilities — or “ISAM” — have the potential to build entire industries, create new jobs, mitigate climate change and advance America’s economic, scientific, technological, and national security interests,” the committee wrote. Federal Communications.

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Seeing Earth from space (NASA/Fox News)

He noted that steps are being taken to modernize satellite bases and adopt new ones to assist satellite launch companies, giving them “ready access to spectrum for transmissions from space launch vehicles during pre-launch tests and space launches.”

Furthermore, the procedure will review the spectrum needs of these missions, the implications for the FCC’s orbital debris rules and any “unique regulatory issues” that arise due to ISAM’s extra-orbital activities.

According to NASA, more than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris are being tracked by the Defense Department’s Global Space Monitoring Network (SSN) sensors.

FILE PHOTO: The International Space Station (ISS) is photographed by the Expedition 56 crew of the Soyuz spacecraft after dismantling on October 4, 2018. (NASA / Roscosmos / Handout via Reuters / File Photo / Reuters)

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There is a lot of debris in the near-Earth space environment, but it is too small to track.

“Since the debris and spacecraft travel at extremely high speeds (about 15,700 miles per hour in low Earth orbit), the impact of even a small piece of orbital debris on a spacecraft can create significant problems,” the agency said.

Reuters contributed to this report.