Family sues NASA over space debris that hit home

A piece of metal crashed through the family's roof
There are millions of pieces of space junk flying in low Earth orbit
The lawsuit could set legal precedent on dealing with space debris

Updated: Jun 24, 2024 / 04:03 PM CDT

This undated photo provided by NASA shows a recovered chunk of space junk from equipment discarded at the International Space Station. The cylindrical object that tore through a home in Naples, Fla., March 8, 2024, was subsequently taken to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for analysis. (NASA via AP)

(NewsNation) — A family from Naples, Florida, is suing NASA after space debris fell through the roof of their home after being released from the International Space Station.

The metal cylinder that tore a hole in the roof weighed 1.6 pounds and was 4-by-1.6 inches. It isn’t entirely clear where it originated from before hitting the Otero family home.

Around the time of the incident, NASA had released a pallet of old nickel hydride batteries that were expected to orbit Earth for two to four years before burning up. However, it’s said the metal was from flight support equipment.

Space debris has become a problem as space exploration has increased. Many countries have launched probes and vessels into space, but not all of them return to Earth. Some continue to orbit even after they are no longer needed.

It’s created what has been called a space junkyard in low Earth orbit, as millions of objects ranging from tiny flecks of paint to old satellites circle the planet.

Space junk is a problem, in part because the expense of cleaning it up would be significant. Some debris may disintegrate as it reenters the atmosphere, but other times, objects can fall from orbit down to Earth, possibly hitting buildings or people that happen to be in the way.

While the risk of being hit by space debris is extremely small, the current lawsuit raises the question of who pays for damages caused by the detritus from space exploration.

A statement from attorneys representing the Otero family stated there was damage to the home’s roof and subfloor and also noted a 9-year-old child was present when the debris hit the home.

“My clients are seeking adequate compensation to account for the stress and impact that this event had on their lives. They are grateful that no one sustained physical injuries from this incident, but a ‘near miss’ situation such as this could have been catastrophic. If the debris had hit a few feet in another direction, there could have been serious injury or a fatality,” said attorney Mica Nguyen Worthy.

The case could set a precedent for what happens in the future as space debris continues to accumulate as more countries embark on space exploration.