An American family is seeking more than $80,000 from NASA for damages caused by a space object that crashed through the roof of their home several months ago, a lawyer said Friday.
The problem of space debris is growing as the space industry grows, and how NASA responds to the request will set an important precedent, the law firm representing the family said in a statement. This decision will lay “the foundation on which the legal landscape in this area will be built,” he noted.
On March 8, 2024, an object weighing about 700 g crashed into the home of Florida city resident Alejandro Otero, making holes in the roof and floor.
“Stress and consequences” for the family
After analysis, NASA confirmed that the object came from a batch of old batteries aboard the International Space Station (ISS), waste released in 2021 and which the US space agency assured would return to Earth “safe and sound”. But rather than disintegrating as expected, the piece “survived” its re-entry into the atmosphere, according to the space agency.
Alejandro Otero himself was not in the house at the time of the strike, unlike his son. “My clients are seeking adequate compensation to take into account the stress and impact this event had on their lives,” said attorney Micah Nguyen Worthy. “They are glad that no one was injured, but (…) if the debris had fallen several meters in a different direction, there could have been serious injury or death. »The money should also be used to cover, among other things, material damage, the press release clarifies.
The problem of “space debris”
The request was made as part of a text allowing an appeal to the government in cases of negligence. If the problem is not resolved in this way, legal action is possible.
The lawyer argues that if the item were to fall on a home abroad, “the United States would be absolutely obligated to pay for that damage” under the international treaty. “We ask NASA not to apply different rules for American citizens or residents. »
Moreover, “space debris represents a real and serious problem due to the increase in space transportation in recent years,” she emphasized.
NASA, which did not immediately respond to AFP’s request, has six months to respond to the request, the lawyer said.
Source: Le Parisien
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