FCC Updates Space Debris Rules for SpaceX, Satellite Operators

The FCC updated rules designed to prevent collisions of SpaceX and other companies’ communications satellites.

The rules, adopted unanimously Thursday, take into account the future launch of thousands of pizza box-size satellites that risk crashing into larger orbiters and adding to space junk circuiting the Earth.

Companies, including Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and Amazon.com Inc., plan to launch the small satellites in low orbit to beam internet to Earth at speeds comparable to terrestrial networks. Existing satellite internet services from companies like ViaSat Inc. have much greater lag times because they orbit farther from Earth.

The rules require that satellite ...