The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has fined satellite TV company Dish Network $150,000 for failing to properly dispose of one of its satellites. This is the first time federal regulators have issued such a penalty.
The FCC's investigation centred on a satellite called EchoStar-7, which was launched to geostationary orbit in 2002.
In 2012, the FCC approved a decommissioning plan for EchoStar-7 that would have put the defunct satellite into a graveyard orbit, where it would not pose a risk to other active satellites.
However, Dish did not leave enough fuel on board EchoStar-7 to make the decommissioning manoeuvre possible.
As a result, the satellite is now dead in an orbit only about 76 miles (122 kilometres) above the active areas in geostationary orbit.
The FCC said that Dish's failure to properly dispose of EchoStar-7 "jeopardizes the nation's terrestrial and space-based communication systems by increasing the risk of damage to satellite communications systems".
Dish has admitted liability for the violation and has agreed to pay the fine.
The company also said that it has a long track record of safely flying a large satellite fleet and takes seriously its responsibilities as an FCC licensee.
Space junk is a growing hazard in orbit, with nearly 700,000 pieces of debris larger than a centimetre. They pose a risk of collisions with satellites, International Space Station (ISS), and other debris.
