Naples, Florida – A family in Naples, Florida is pursuing compensation from NASA after a piece of space debris from the International Space Station crashed through the roof of their home in March, sparking concerns over the safety of space traffic. Although no one was injured, the Otero family’s attorney described the incident as a “near miss” that could have had catastrophic consequences.

Homeowner Alejandro Otero recounted receiving a panicked call from his son on the day of the incident, only to return home and discover a charred cylindrical piece of metal lodged in their wall, smaller than a soup can. The family’s attorney, Mica Nguyen Worthy, emphasized the need for adequate compensation to address the stress and impact on their lives, highlighting the potential for serious injury or fatality had the debris landed differently.

NASA confirmed that the debris, a 1.6-pound object, was part of a 5,800-pound cargo pallet carrying old nickel hydride batteries released from the International Space Station in March 2021. The fact that the debris survived reentry into Earth’s atmosphere raised concerns about future incidents involving space junk.

Worthy stressed the significance of NASA’s response to the claim, noting it could establish a legal precedent for how such incidents involving U.S. citizens are handled. She urged NASA to adhere to international space law standards in addressing the family’s case.

In cases of international incidents, the “launching state” is held accountable for damages caused by its objects, as illustrated by the Soviet Union’s compensation following a satellite malfunction over Canada. Worthy emphasized the importance of accountability and liability in space debris incidents involving multiple countries.

The family’s claim, exceeding $80,000, includes property damage, business interruption, mental anguish, and third-party assistance costs. NASA has six months to respond to the claim under the Federal Torts Claim Act, as outlined by Worthy in the news release. The situation underscores the growing concern surrounding space debris and the need for accountability in safeguarding individuals from potential hazards.