An American family in Florida has sought more than $80,000 in damages from NASA after a piece of space debris hit the roof of their home, news agency AFP reported, citing a statement from a law firm.
The legal trouble highlights the growing problem of space debris as space traffic increases. Cranfill Sumner said in a statement that NASA’s response is expected to set a precedent for how claims are handled in the future.
On March 8, space debris weighing just 700 grams fell on Alejandro Otero’s home in Naples, Florida. It reportedly punched a hole in the roof of the family’s home.
NASA later confirmed that the object was part of a cargo pallet of used batteries that was dumped as waste from the International Space Station in 2021, reports AFP.
According to the law firm, Alejandro Otero’s son was at home at the time of the collision. The family has given NASA six months to legally respond to their claim.
“My client is seeking substantial compensation for the stress and impact this incident has had on his life,” attorney Micah Nguyen Worthy said.
“They are thankful that no one was physically hurt in this incident, but a ‘near-miss’ situation like this could have been catastrophic.”
“Serious injury or death could have occurred.”
NASA did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
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Published: June 24, 2024, 06:55 PM IST
