In a surprising turn of events, homeowners in Florida were startled by an unexpected visit from space debris last month, according to a recent blog post by NASA.
The incident traces back to March 2021, when ground controllers at NASA utilized the robotic arm of the International Space Station (ISS) to release a cargo pallet carrying aging nickel hydride batteries. Weighing in at 5,800 pounds, the released hardware was intended to safely disintegrate upon reentering Earth’s atmosphere. However, a small piece veered off course, finding its way into a residential home in Florida, NASA disclosed.
The Otero family, the homeowners affected by the crash, recounted the harrowing experience to WINK News. Alejandro Otero described the event as accompanied by a “tremendous sound,” narrowly missing his son, who was only two rooms away. “Something ripped through the house and then made a big hole on the floor and on the ceiling,” he explained, initially mistaking the incident for a meteorite strike. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the family members.
Upon investigation, NASA identified the debris as a stanchion from flight support equipment utilized for mounting the batteries on the cargo pallet. Measuring 1.6 pounds, 4 inches in height, and 1.6 inches in diameter, the object caused structural damage upon impact.
NASA has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to ascertain the cause of the debris’s survival and subsequent impact on Earth. Additionally, the agency reiterated its commitment to safe operations in low Earth orbit and emphasized the ongoing efforts to minimize risks associated with the release of space hardware to protect individuals on the ground.
