In a startling incident earlier this year, a Florida family's home in Naples was struck by a cylindrical object that turned out to be space debris. Now, the family has announced that they are suing NASA for damages resulting from the incident.

The incident took place on March 8 when Alejandro Otero's son called him while he was on vacation to inform him about the crashing object. Otero expressed his disbelief at the chances of something landing on his house with such force, causing significant damage. Luckily, no one was injured in the incident.

In April, NASA confirmed that the object was a metal support used to mount old batteries on a cargo pallet for disposal. Although the load was expected to burn up on re-entering Earth's atmosphere, one piece had survived and crashed into the Otero family's home.

As a result, the family is now seeking compensation for damages. Law firm Cranfill Sumner filed a claim on behalf of the Otero family, citing damages for non-insured property, business interruption, emotional and mental anguish, and the cost of assistance from third-party agencies.

According to attorney Mica Nguyen Worthy, the incident highlights the growing concern of space debris due to the increase in space traffic in recent years. Worthy stated that the family is seeking adequate compensation to account for the stress and impact this event had on their lives. She also mentioned that this near miss could have been catastrophic if the debris had hit just a few feet in another direction, potentially causing serious injury or even fatalities.

This case is not only seeking compensation for the damages suffered by the Otero family but also aims to set a precedent for future space debris claims in both the private and public sectors. The family's attorney emphasized the need to address the serious issue of space debris as space traffic continues to increase.

NASA now has six months to respond to the claims filed by the Otero family. As this legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will influence the handling of space debris and potential claims in the future.