A Florida family is asking NASA for compensation for damage to their home from space debris

A family Florida sued NASA for damages A piece of debris from the International Space Station (ISS) fell into their home last March, destroying part of the roof, causing them “emotional distress”. Alejandro Otero, who lives in Naples on Florida's west coast, points out that a cylindrical object passed his house on March 8.

A piece of debris hit the house that day, and his son Daniel, who was there, was nearly injured by the piece, which left a sizable hole from the roof to the basement.

Damages include “uninsured property damage losses, business interruption damages, Damages for emotional/mental distress and expenses for third party assistance required in the process“says Cranfield Summer, the law firm responsible for the case.

“My clients seek appropriate compensation taking into account the stress and impact this event has had on their lives,” attorney Micah Nguyen Worthy said in a statement.

“Space debris is a real and serious problem due to the increase in space traffic in recent years,” he stressed.

“Worthy urged NASA to consider that if the US government agreed, people would not have to file a claim under the legal doctrine of negligence.Totally responsible”, under international treaty law for damage to persons or property caused by its space objects on the Earth's surface.

The object was taken to the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral on Florida's east coast for examination, which confirmed last April that it was a metal support. Used to attach to a charging pad to dispose of old batteries.

The platform was removed from the space station in 2021 and the cargo was expected to burn up completely upon entering Earth's atmosphere, but one piece survived. Otero told CBS that her son was on vacation and was stunned after being saved from the attack.

“I was shaking. I was in complete disbelief. What were the chances of something falling into my house with that much damage?” “I'm just so thankful no one was hurt.”

EFE