American sues NASA over battery fragment that fell on his house from space

(Patria) - American Alejandro Otero is seeking $80,000 from NASA for the damage caused by a small piece of space debris when it fell on his house in Florida.

The problem with space debris is becoming increasingly common with a growing number of spacecraft and satellites orbiting the Earth, and NASA's response and the court's decision will set a precedent for future cases.

An object weighing just 700 grams fell on Otero's house in March, but it caused considerable damage. Otero's son was in the house at the time of impact, but fortunately was not injured.

NASA later confirmed that it was part of a cargo pallet of used batteries that was ejected from the International Space Station in 2021.

Instead of completely burning up during its descent to Earth, part of the pallet remained intact upon entering the atmosphere.

- My clients are seeking adequate compensation for the damage and stress this incident caused. There could have been serious injury or death - stated Otero's lawyer, adding that NASA has six months to respond.