Florida family sues NASA over space debris that hit their home

A family from Naples, Florida, is suing NASA after a piece of space debris from the International Space Station (ISS) crashed through their home in March, creating a hole in the roof.

The Florida family is seeking over $80,000 in compensation for property damage, business interruption, emotional distress, and other costs. The metallic object weighing 1.6 pounds was identified as part of hardware discarded from the ISS during battery replacement operation.

NASA confirmed the object was part of a 5,800-pound cargo pallet carrying old nickel hydride batteries, released from the ISS in March 2021. This pallet was expected to burn up in the atmosphere, but it survived reentry.

Although no injuries were reported, the family’s lawyer, Mica Nguyen Worthy, emphasized the near-miss nature of the incident, which could have had catastrophic consequences, raising concerns about the increasing frequency of such incidents. 

Why is it important?
NASA’s response to the lawsuit could set a legal precedent for addressing future such incidents on US soil as space traffic has increased in recent years, says Worthy.

NASA has six months to respond under the Federal Torts Claim Act.

Other recent instances include SpaceX Dragon debris found in Canada and North Carolina and an Indian rocket part that landed on an Australian beach. The incidents underscore the widespread issue of an increasing amount of space debris.