A Florida family whose home was hit by space debris earlier this year is seeking compensation from the US space agency NASA for property damage and mental anguish. In fact, a 0.7 kg metal object pierced the roof, crossing two layers of ceiling in Alejandro Otero’s house in Naples last March, injuring his son. NASA had said the object was part of about 5,800 pounds of hardware downloaded from the International Space Station after the installation of new lithium-ion batteries.
Damage to things and people
A press release from law firm Cranfill Summer lists damages as including uninsured loss of property damage, business interruption, emotional/mental anguish and third-party care costs. Attorney Mica Nguyen Worthy said space debris “is a really serious problem because of the increase in space traffic in recent years.” “My clients are seeking appropriate compensation to account for the stress and impact this event has had on their lives,” she said in a statement
“I was shaking, I was in disbelief”
Mr. Otero told CBS affiliate Wink-TV that the device created a “tremendous sound” when it exploded in his home. “I was shaking. I was in complete disbelief. What are the odds that something would hit my house with such force that it would cause that much damage,” Otero said. The debris was determined to be part of a riser used to mount batteries to a cargo pallet. “The hardware was expected to burn up completely upon entry into Earth’s atmosphere on March 8, 2024. However, one piece of hardware survived and impacted a home in Naples, Florida,” the l ‘agency.
Six months to respond
According to NASA, the ISS will “conduct a detailed investigation” into how the debris survived the fire. The agency now has six months to respond to Otero’s claims.
