NASA and SpaceX are working to mitigate the dangers posed by space debris

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

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

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

The latest discovery of debris occurred on a private mountaintop outside Asheville, North Carolina, where ground rangers came across part of a trunk from the Dragon spacecraft.

The case, which is designed to carry cargo into space, remains attached to the spacecraft until shortly before re-entry, when the sections detach.

PIECE OF SUSPECTED SPACE DEBRIS FOUND IN RURAL NORTH CAROLINA

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

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

The space company has not commented publicly on any of the discoveries, although the pieces of space junk have gained viral attention.

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

If the pieces of the crew’s hull follow a similar timeline to previous debris, the objects will remain in low Earth orbit until early fall, before possibly descending over a community or into one of the planet’s vast oceans.

YOU SEE OBJECTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE PRESERVED BEYOND THE MOON

Who is responsible for damage caused by space junk?

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

However, in the rare cases where damage or injury is caused by falling space debris, the 1972 agreement specifies who will be liable.

According to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, “the launching State is absolutely responsible for the payment of compensation for damage caused by its space object on the surface of the Earth or by an aircraft in flight”.

Despite the US tracking about 45,400 objects in space, the odds of them actually being hit by debris are thought 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 Crash crashed into his Naples-area home in March.

Fortunately, the approximately two-kilogram object did not injure anyone, but it caused damage to the home.

A lawyer representing the family filed a claim with NASA for damages.

“Space debris is a real and serious problem 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 to 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.