An American family whose home was hit by space debris earlier this year is seeking compensation from US space agency NASA for property damage and mental anguish. The metal cylinder slab tore a hole in the roof through two layers of roofing at Alejandro Otero’s home in Naples in March. At the time, NASA said the object was part of 2.9 tonnes of used batteries thrown from the International Space Station in March 2021. Mr Otero said his son was nearly injured by the impact.
Now, law firm Cranfill Summer said in a press release that it has filed a claim on behalf of Mr. Otero and his family. It lists damages including uninsured property damage losses, business interruption, emotional/mental suffering and costs for assistance from third parties.
According to BBCLawyer Micah Nguyen Worthy said space debris is “a serious issue due to the increase in space traffic in recent years.” He added, “My clients are seeking substantial compensation for the stress and impact this incident has had on their lives.”
Speaking separately, CBS associated Blink TV Mr Otero said the space debris made a very loud noise when it hit his home. “I was shaking. I was in total disbelief. What are the chances that something could hit my house with such force and cause so much damage,” Mr Otero said.
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The US space agency has confirmed that the debris belonged to its flight support equipment. It was a metal support used to hold old batteries on a disposal pallet that was thrown off the station in 2021. While most of the pallet was expected to burn up in the atmosphere, this particular piece survived the return to flames.
“The hardware was expected to burn up completely during entry into Earth’s atmosphere on March 8, 2024. However, a piece of the hardware survived and struck a home in Naples, Florida,” the agency said. According to NASA, the ISS will conduct a “detailed investigation” into how the debris survived the burn.
BBC The agency now has six months to respond to Mr Otero’s claims, according to the report.