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Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs by ajvsnsdli on Monday July 31, 2023 @04:59PM (#36948733)
I did not know that was a thing. Though, maybe I am uninformed but I can't think of both how and why this is a thing. First, a quick search on ISRO's wiki page it has a handful of launches every year, and assuming the chances of the rocket debris landing on a particular country is likely single digits a year if at all that is, what's the point of a fine, just to make money? or is it supposed to incentivize countries to invest into research of rocket debris trajectories? Or perhaps deter countries from launching rockets? Second, what happens when a space agency disputes an incident/fine, who is the final authority? What happens on repeat offenses, steeper fines? What if the fine is not paid? Is it a problem worth tensions between nations with sizable bilateral trade?
Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs by mminer237 on Monday July 31, 2023 @05:09PM (#36948854)
They issued a $400 fine as a joke, and NASA never actually paid it.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/70708/nasas-unpaid-400-l...

Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs by midasuni on Monday July 31, 2023 @05:10PM (#36948869)
It’s the principal. The Skylab fine was $400.

The idea is that an organisation, no matter how large, doesn’t get to ignore the law.

Alas nasa didn’t even pay the fine, probably some form of legal reason

Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs by mtmail on Monday July 31, 2023 @05:49PM (#36949346)
The ticket was not serious and the local government never followed up to collect it. https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/34928/did-nasa-...
Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs by mrlonglong on Monday July 31, 2023 @05:53PM (#36949403)
They didn't pay?
Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs by thwwwk on Monday July 31, 2023 @06:42PM (#36949853)
As an American I will consider paying this on behalf of NASA if someone can tell me how… $400 is worth the amusement
Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs by seanmcdirmid on Monday July 31, 2023 @09:07PM (#36951059)
> In 2009, 30 years after Skylab’s reentry, California radio DJ Scott Barley asked listeners to donate money so they could finally clear NASA’s books. Though the mayor of Esperance told Barley the ticket had been “written off years ago,” he and his listeners cobbled together the $400 and sent it to the shire. For his efforts, Barley was invited to Esperance and received a key to the city.

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/70708/nasas-unpaid-400-l...

Re:Space junk: India says object found in Australia is theirs by Someone on Monday July 31, 2023 @05:58PM (#36949453)
> assuming the chances of the rocket debris landing on a particular country is likely single digits a year if at all that is, what's the point of a fine

It’s not likely, but debris may land on top of humans, and may be large and not only physically, but also chemically dangerous.

As to that fine, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty doesn’t mention that, but does say:

“States shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects”