Space Debris Breaks Off from ISS
International Shared Asset... Cooperation Among Multiple Governments
Who Is Responsible for Compensation?
Recently, 'space debris' crashed into a house in Florida, USA. Although there were no casualties, the metal object created a large hole from the ceiling to the second-floor floor.
This incident is expected to open a new horizon in international space law. It raised the question of 'who is responsible for compensating damages to private property caused by space debris.'
Space debris piercing through a house roof
Earlier, NASA revealed that the investigation of the object showed it was "a support bracket used when attaching batteries to the International Space Station (ISS) cargo pallet." This bracket passed through Earth's atmosphere and fell, damaging the house.
The object was made of Inconel alloy, weighing about 725g, with a height of 10 cm and a diameter of 4 cm. The metal fragment pierced the roof of Alejandro Otero's house in Florida on the 8th of last month (local time).
Part made by Japan and installed by the US: Who is responsible?
The source of space debris is the International Space Station (ISS). The components within the space station were produced through the cooperation of multiple countries. Because of this, it is difficult to determine who holds the liability for compensation. [Image source=NASA]
Otero and his legal representatives are already preparing a claim for damages. Previously, NASA promised compensation to the Otero family, the victims of the accident, and stated that they are "committed to risk mitigation to protect people on Earth when space debris is released."
However, the issue remains: who should compensate the citizen? The US technology media 'Wired' quoted Michelle Hanlon, a senior fellow at the University of Mississippi's Center for Air and Space Law, saying, "The Federal Tort Claims Act specifies government liability for damages," but "this law may not apply to this incident."
A spacecraft docking with the space station. The parts of the ISS are loaded onto the spacecraft and sent to the station. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The problem stems from the fact that the ISS is not solely US government property but a joint asset created through international cooperation. The metal fragment that damaged Otero's house was part of a cargo pallet launched by the Japanese space agency. However, NASA ordered the item to upgrade facilities inside the ISS.
Because of this, NASA is currently reviewing existing space law deeply together with the US government. This case is considered important as it may set a precedent for similar space debris accidents in the future.
Hanlon explained, "Perhaps this incident will require revising laws related to claims for damages caused by space debris," adding, "We are also attempting dialogue with international parties involved in space development."
Considering safer methods for space debris disposal
Meanwhile, NASA is also investigating safe methods for releasing space debris from the station. Initially, NASA believed that space debris would automatically burn up in Earth's atmosphere upon release. However, as seen in the Otero incident, small fragments can remain and potentially cause significant damage.
In a statement, NASA said, "Engineers and experts are studying how space debris breaks up after re-entering the atmosphere," adding, "If it becomes clear that debris can survive atmospheric re-entry, we will need to update safer debris release methods."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
