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It is thought that over 10,000 satellites have been launched into space since 1957, and around half of those are now no longer functional. The US regulator, the FCC, has issued the first fine of $150,000 (£125,000) to a company called Dish Network for failing to properly dispose of a satellite for more than two decades. Instead of properly de-orbiting the satellite - Dish Network sent it into “disposal orbit” - at an altitude low enough to pose orbital debris risk. Doctor Megan Argo, a senior lecturer in Astrophysics at the University of Central Lancashire, said in the future we need global co-operation. "At the moment, the FCC only has jurisdiction over companies based in the US. This is a global problem. If one of these satellites crashes into another satellite and creates a lot of debris, it can potentially affect communications, infrastructure across the whole planet, not just for the US." (Photo: Artist impression of space debris. Credit: NASA JSC)