The Otero family, of Naples, is seeking $80,000 in damages from NASA
A Florida family is suing NASA after a piece of metal from the International Space Station tore through their roof and briefly lost their adult son.
The Otero family, of Naples, is seeking $80,000 in damages from NASA “to account for the distress and impact” the March 8 incident caused them.
It is the first case of its kind and will “form the basis” for similar claims in the future as space debris damage has become a “real and serious issue”, according to law firm Cranfill Sumner.
Daniel Otero, who was at home at the time and was almost hit, the family’s lawyers told MailOnline: “Had the debris hit a few meters in another direction, there could have been serious injury or death.”
Researchers later discovered that the debris was a 1.6 kg piece of a cargo pallet that had been jettisoned from the Space Station in March 2021 and was expected to burn up completely on re-entry, but somehow survived.
Homeowner Alejandro Otero was on vacation when he received a call from his son Daniel saying he heard a “terrible sound” and that there were gaping holes in the ceiling and floor.
Photos of the damage show where the piece of metal tore through the roof and an interior floor before finally coming to rest in the property’s basement.
Speaking to local news at the time, Otero said: “Something tore through the house and then made a big hole in the floor and the roof. When we heard it, we were weak, and immediately afterwards I thought it was a meteor. What are the odds of something landing in my house with that much force and causing that much damage?’
They are now seeking $80,000 in damages for uninsured property damage, business interruption, emotional distress and the costs of third-party assistance required in the process.
After the incident, NASA collected the debris to inspect it.
They discovered it came from a “post” used in flight support equipment to place batteries on a pallet on the Space Station.
NASA had launched the pallet in 2021, expecting it to remain in orbit for two to four years before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere in a controlled manner.
But the unguided re-entry caused it to have an off-course and unpredictable landing.
Source :Skai
With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
