Low Earth orbit is getting busier every year. Rules for what happens to a satellite after its mission are therefore becoming stricter. Two frameworks are especially relevant for operators today: the five-year rule of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Zero Debris Charter initiated in Europe.
The FCC's five-year rule
In September 2022, the FCC adopted a new rule for satellites in low Earth orbit, below 2,000 km. Operators must dispose of their satellites within five years of the end of their mission. Before, the industry had followed a voluntary guideline of 25 years.
The rule applies to satellites licensed in the United States and to foreign operators who want access to the US market. That means it matters for many European operators as well.
The Zero Debris Charter
The Zero Debris Charter was announced at the Paris Air Show in June 2023. More than 40 space actors drafted it together, with ESA facilitating the process. The charter sets the goal of becoming debris-neutral by 2030. According to ESA, it is not legally binding. It is a voluntary commitment that any organisation can sign. More than 200 companies, research centres and international organisations as well as over 20 countries have joined it.
What this means for mission planning
- Choose the orbit carefully: satellites in lower orbits re-enter the atmosphere faster by themselves. At higher altitudes, a propulsion system or another deorbit device is often needed to meet the five-year limit.
- Plan the end of life from the start: propellant for the final manoeuvre, a deorbit sail or a similar solution has to be part of the design.
- Check the licence requirements early: national authorities ask for a debris mitigation plan as part of the licence application.
- Coordinate with the launch provider: upper stages and dispensers also have to be disposed of safely, and many launch providers include this in their mission design.
Why it matters
Stricter debris rules affect the cost and design of a satellite and can influence which orbit makes sense for a mission. Operators who consider these requirements early avoid delays in licensing and launch planning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FCC 5-year rule?
Adopted on 29 September 2022, it requires satellites ending their mission in or passing through low Earth orbit, below 2,000 km, to deorbit as soon as practicable and no later than five years after mission completion. It replaced the decades old 25-year guideline, and the FCC gave operators a two-year transition period.
Is the Zero Debris Charter legally binding?
No. The charter text itself describes it as a non-legally binding charter, and ESA names the goal of achieving zero debris by 2030. More than 200 companies, research centres and international organisations and over 20 countries have joined it.
What does this mean for satellite design?
Operators need a plan for the end of life from the start, for example propellant for a final manoeuvre or a deorbit device, especially at higher altitudes where natural decay is slow.
Related reading
- Satellite End of Life: Deorbiting, Graveyard Orbits and Passivation
- Space Situational Awareness: How Satellites Avoid Collisions
- The Outer Space Treaty: The Legal Foundation of Spaceflight
Sources
- FCC, "FCC Adopts New '5-Year Rule' for Deorbiting Satellites": fcc.gov
- ESA, "The Zero Debris Charter": esa.int
- FCC news release, 29 September 2022 (full text)
- Zero Debris Charter, full text (PDF)
Cover image: AI-generated illustration (Carrier Space, created with OpenAI). Objects are not shown to scale.