{{Update|part=the intro is written as if this were still in service for Dish Network, it is not - per bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66993647|date=October 2023}}
{{Short description|Communications satellite}} {{Infobox spaceflight | name = EchoStar VII | image = | image_caption =
| mission_type = Communication | operator = EchoStar | website = | COSPAR_ID = 2002-006A | SATCAT = 27378 | mission_duration = 12 years planned, 20 years actual
| spacecraft_bus = A2100AX | manufacturer = Lockheed Martin Space Systems | dry_mass = {{convert|1,943|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | launch_mass = {{convert|4,172|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | power =
| launch_date = {{start-date|February 21, 2002, 05:21|timezone=yes}} UTC | launch_rocket = Atlas IIIB-DEC | launch_site = Cape Canaveral LC-36B | launch_contractor = | entered_service = 2002
| disposal_type = parking orbit, 122 km above geosynchronous <br>(see End-of-life problems) | deactivated = May 2022
| orbit_epoch = | orbit_reference = Geocentric | orbit_regime = Geostationary | orbit_longitude = 119° West | apsis = gee
| trans_band = 32 K<sub>u</sub> band | trans_frequency = | trans_capacity = | trans_coverage = United States and Puerto Rico | trans_TWTA = | trans_EIRP = | trans_HPBW = }} '''EchoStar VII''' was an American geostationary communications satellite which was operated by DISH Network, originally EchoStar. It was positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 119° West, from where it was used to provide high-definition television direct broadcasting services to the United States.<ref name="faa">{{cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/launch_details/?id=54|title=Launch Details ECHOSTAR VII - Atlas IIIB|access-date=January 6, 2023|publisher=FAA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-03 |title=US issues first ever fine for space junk to Dish Network |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-66993647 |access-date=2026-05-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
EchoStar VII was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, and was based on the A2100 satellite bus.<ref name="faa"/> It was equipped with 32 Ku band transponders,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.satbeams.com/satellites?id=27378|title=Echostar VII|publisher=SatBeams|access-date=28 November 2017}}</ref> and at launch it had a mass of {{convert|4026|kg}}, with an expected operational lifespan of around 12 years. The launch occurred from Launch Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, on 21 February 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Atlas_3_Launches_EchoStar_7.html|title=Atlas 3 Launches EchoStar 7|publisher=SpaceDaily.com|date=February 21, 2002|access-date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> It was issued a $150,000 fine in October 2023, making it the first satellite to be fined under the FCC's anti-space debris rule.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clayton |first1=Abené |title=US government issues first-ever space debris penalty to Dish Network |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/oct/02/fcc-space-debris-fine-dish-network-satellite |access-date=5 October 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=2 October 2023}}</ref>
== End-of-life problems == 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.{{efn-lr|name=deorbit|This is not a 'deorbit' in the strict sense, as the satellite would remain in a parking orbit. However the term is used loosely to refer to satellite end-of-life operations.}} 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.<ref name="DA 23-888" />
In February 2022, a technical problem was discovered in that a scheduled thruster operation had not produced the expected change in orbit.{{efn-lr|Such maneuvers are a regular part of operating a geostationary satellite, to stop its orbit degenerating to a merely geosynchronous orbit with an analemma 'wobble'. For reception by fixed dish receivers such as domestic satellite TV, this wobble must be kept within tight limits.}} This revealed that the satellite was unexpectedly low on propellant; not only might its life be curtailed, but there was already the possibility that there was no longer sufficient propellant for the planned disposal boost. Deorbit might thus be brought forward ahead of the planned end of license,{{efn-lr|name=deorbit}} but the license was already within its last few months.<ref name="DA 23-888" /> There was a further meeting between DISH and FCC in April 2022.<ref name="DA 23-888" /> On 6 May 2022, DISH notified the FCC that EchoStar-7 satellite had completed its end-of-life deorbit maneuvers and they surrendered its license.<ref name="DA 23-888" /><ref >{{Cite document |publisher=DISH Network |id=IBFS File No. SAT-MOD-20100329-00058 |title=Surrender of Authorization Letter |date=6 May 2022 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="DA 23-888" />
=== Penalties === In October 2023 its operator, DISH, was fined $150,000 by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for failing to de-orbit the satellite according to the terms of its license.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepardson |first1=David |title=DISH gets first-ever space debris fine over EchoStar-7 |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/dish-gets-first-ever-space-debris-fine-over-echostar-7-2023-10-02/ |access-date=3 October 2023 |work=Reuters |date=2 October 2023}}</ref> The fine was described as "modest", but was followed by 4% drop in share price, or loss of around $100 million.<ref name="MIT" />
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.<ref name="DA 23-888" /> 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.<ref name="DA 23-888" />
The precedent of this penalty was seen as positive for orbital debris removal companies such as Japan's Astroscale and Switzerland's ClearSpace.<ref name="MIT" /><ref name="ClearSpace" />
==See also== {{Portal|Spaceflight}} *2002 in spaceflight
==References== {{Notelist-lr}}
<references> <ref name="DA 23-888" >{{Cite web |title=Consent Decree |date=October 2023 |author=Federal Communications Commission |id=DA 23-888 |url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-23-888A2.txt }}</ref>
<ref name="MIT" >{{Cite magazine |title=Why the first-ever space junk fine is such a big deal |date=5 October 2023 |magazine=MIT Technology Review |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/10/05/1080999/first-space-junk-fine/ }}</ref>
<ref name="ClearSpace" >{{Cite web |title=ClearSpace Today |date=6 March 2023 |url=https://clearspace.today/uk/ }}</ref> </references>
{{Orbital launches in 2002}} {{EchoStar satellites}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2002 Category:Satellites using the A2100 bus Category:Communications satellites in geostationary orbit Category:Spacecraft launched by Atlas rockets E07 {{Dish Network}}
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