A metal object crashed into a home in Florida, causing significant damage and raising concerns about space junk. The object, believed to be from a discarded battery pallet from the International Space Station (ISS), weighed about two pounds. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident.
The homeowner, Alejandro Otero, received a call from his son while he was on vacation, informing him about the incident. The fallen object created holes in the ceiling and floor, narrowly missing Otero’s son. The object has since been recovered by NASA for analysis to determine its origin. If it is confirmed to be space junk, NASA could be held liable for the damages caused.
The battery pallet was expected to burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere in a controlled manner after staying in orbit for two to four years. However, due to a miscalculation, it ended up landing off-course and causing damage to Otero’s home. This incident raises concerns about the increasing amount of space debris and the potential risks it poses.
Currently, there are more than 30,000 objects of space debris orbiting the Earth. While most objects