Naples, Florida – A mysterious object crashed through the roof of a man’s home, sparking confusion and concern over its origin and potential danger. After more than a month of uncertainty, NASA has finally confirmed the object’s identity and its connection to the International Space Station.

According to a press release from NASA, the object in question was part of a cargo pallet that contained aging nickel hydride batteries. Specifically, it was a stanchion used to mount the batteries on the cargo pallet. This hardware was released from the space station in March 2021, weighing approximately 5,800 pounds.

Despite NASA’s expectation that the cargo pallet would fully burn up upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the stanchion managed to survive and crash into the residence of Alejandro Otero in Naples, Florida. Otero described the object as tearing through his roof and two floors of his home, narrowly missing his son.

In response to the incident, NASA has collected the object for further analysis at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The agency aims to determine the object’s origin and gather more information once the analysis is complete.

Otero, who was on vacation when the object crashed through his home, expressed shock and disbelief at the damage caused. He speculated that the object may have been a meteorite due to its cylindrical shape and the direction of its trajectory through the atmosphere.

NASA emphasized its commitment to operating responsibly in low Earth orbit and minimizing risks to people on Earth when space hardware must be released. The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and potential hazards associated with space exploration and debris.