The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued its first fine for space pollution, targeting Dish Network with a $150,000 penalty for failing to properly deorbit its decommissioned EchoStar-7 satellite.

Dish Network admitted liability and agreed to a compliance plan to address the issue.

Space junk is a growing concern, with millions of debris pieces orbiting Earth, posing risks to satellites, astronauts, and future space missions.

Experts worry about the possibility of a “Kessler cascade,” where debris collisions lead to more debris and further collisions, potentially hampering space exploration.

The FCC’s action reflects the increasing importance of enforcing space debris rules as satellite operations and the space economy expand.