Cap Satellite Constellation Collision Risk: Astroscale

Nearly 1,000 new objects in orbit were cataloged in the past six months, and there were two debris-generating events in March, but the FCC "is continuing a 'business-as-usual' approach" of license approvals without considering the aggregated orbital debris risk, Astroscale told aides to the regular commissioners, per a docket 18-313 post Friday. A license request for multiple satellites must be assessed in its entirety for assessing orbital environment impact via an aggregate risk calculation, and calculating only the collision risk of a single satellite in each system fails in quantifying the risk of an entire constellation, it said. The FCC should cap the collision risk posed by each licensed system, enforce that cap and monitor aggregate collision risk by required reports, the company said.