NASA, SpaceX work to mitigate risks from space debris

WASHINGTON – NASA is now admitting that debris from SpaceX missions may not burn up completely upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, as models previously suggested, increasing the risks of surface impacts.

According to the space agency, it is aware of at least five cases where debris that was designed to break up reached the Earth’s surface.

Fortunately, none of these events resulted in human injuries or significant property damage. However, a slight change in trajectory would increase the risks to property owners and aviation.

The most recent discovery of debris occurred on a private mountaintop outside Asheville, North Carolina, where groundskeepers stumbled upon a piece of a log from a Dragon spacecraft.

The trunk, which is designed to carry cargo into space, remains attached to the spacecraft until shortly before reentry, when the sections separate.

LOCATED IN RURAL NORTH CAROLINA SUSPECTED SPACE DEBRIS

“During its initial design, the Dragon spacecraft trunk was rated for re-entry separation and was predicted to burn completely,” a NASA spokesperson said. “Information from debris recovery provides an opportunity for teams to improve debris modeling. NASA and SpaceX will continue to explore additional solutions as we learn from discovered debris.”

It’s unclear what modifications SpaceX might implement to the spacecraft to minimize the risk of debris falling throughout the atmosphere.

The space company has not publicly commented on any of the discoveries, despite the pieces of space debris gaining viral attention.

NASA warns there is the potential for more space debris after SpaceX Crew-8 returns from the International Space Station in August.

If the pieces of the crew’s trunk follow a similar timeline to previous debris, the objects will remain in low Earth orbit until early fall, before possibly landing on a community or one of the planet’s great oceans. .

SEE THE OBJECTS THAT HUMANS LEFT BEHIND ON THE MOON

Who is responsible for damage from space debris?

Until now, debris from SpaceX missions has landed harmlessly in mostly rural areas of the planet.

However, in the rare event that damage or injury is caused by falling space debris, a 1972 agreement defines who would be liable.

According to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, “A launching State shall be absolutely liable to pay compensation for damage caused by its space object to the surface of the earth or to aircraft in flight.”

Although the US tracks about 45,400 objects in space, the chance of being hit by debris is considered to be less than one in a trillion.

A Florida man recently beat the odds when a piece of discarded hardware from the International Space Station crashed into his Naples-area home in March.

Fortunately, no one was injured by the two-kilogram object, but it caused damage to the apartment.

A lawyer representing the family has filed a claim with NASA to recover compensation for the damage.

“Space debris is a real and serious issue due to the increase in space traffic in recent years,” Mica Nguyen Worthy, an attorney at Cranfill Sumner LLP, said in a statement.

NASA advises anyone who encounters a piece of space debris to never handle the object and contact local authorities.

SpaceX has set up a hotline at 1-866-623-0234 for witnesses to contact if debris from its missions is discovered.