In accordance with normal end-of-life planning for a geosynchronous satellite, the satellite was to be boosted to a disposal orbit at least 300 km above the operational orbit. Such a plan had been part of pre-launch planning, and was further modified in 2010. In 2012, a license extension was granted to May 2022, permitting a further 10 years of operational life. This incorporated a disposal plan based on a similar boosting, in the knowledge that the full lifetime available would be limited by the fuel available, and in having an adequate reserve available through the satellite's remaining working life. This notice showed that the satellite had been placed in a disposal orbit approximately 122 km above the operational orbit, but short of the planned disposal orbit of 300 km. The fine was described as "modest", but was followed by 4% drop in share price, or loss of around $100 million. DISH were further required to implement a
compliance program and to 'Develop and Improve Upon Propellant Tracking', both by direct measurement of propellant quantities remaining, or by improved accounting for its consumption during operations. This would be applied across the whole DISH fleet. DISH would also review the 'End-of-Mission Disposal Plan' for each satellite annually, checking that the planned disposal would still be possible with the resources and vehicle condition remaining, the intention being to give greater warning of any shortfalls and so avoid the orbit becoming unreachable, as had happened with EchoStar-7. The precedent of this penalty was seen as positive for
orbital debris removal companies such as Japan's
Astroscale and Switzerland's
ClearSpace. ==See also==