NASA confirms metal object that struck Fla. home was space station junk

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A metal object that fell through the roof of a home in Naples, Florida, last month was debris from a pallet of trash NASA released into space three years ago. The 1.6-pound cylindrical object was part of a 5,800-pound collection of old nickel hydride batteries released from the International Space Station in March 2021. NASA is still investigating how the debris survived reentry into Earth's atmosphere. The homeowner, Alejandro Otero, had contacted his insurance company about fixing his house, but it's unclear whether he has been able to repair the damage or sought compensation. The liability for damage caused by objects reentering Earth's atmosphere falls on the launching state, but this case involving a civilian-owned property has little precedent.

#Nasa #SpaceDebris #Florida #InternationalSpaceStation

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/04/16/nasa-space-debris-florida/