IMPORTANT!!! NASA/US government Internationally liable for any damage due to UARS debris.

So it would seem that wherever debris falls it is still owned by the US/NASA.

Under the terms of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, the US government retains ownership of the debris and could, if it so wished, seek to take possession of any items found on the ground.

With those ownership rights also comes absolute liability if a piece of UARS were to damage property or injure someone.

Please read article for full details

Source

Interesting to see how this plays out should any damage to property occur and god forbid anybody is injured/killed.
Also wonder wht the going rate is for a crater in someones garden?

Originally posted by waveydavey
Interesting to see how this plays out should any damage to property occur and god forbid anybody is injured/killed.
Also wonder wht the going rate is for a crater in someones garden?

Probably life in prison with no hope of parole, why you ask. They'll probably accuse you of stealing it and trying to hide it by burying it

I bet some poor people somewhere in the world
is praying it hits there poperty..

CHA CHING $$

reply to post by popsmayhem


oh Yah!! Ja! Us Africans!

You guys are here and there.
You can run but you cant hide!

So if I build a satalite put it in airspace with a hot air balloon and drop it on the white house am I liable for any damage?

LoL. My step son nearly had his head taken off just past midday today by a chunk of flying metal that embedded itself in his backyard.
Hmmmmmmm

I hope it hits my house. That would work out nicely. Hmmmm I need a really big magnet.

"Reports are coming in that thousands of homes have been damaged by the falling satellite. In other news sledgehammer sales have risen by 2000%"

Seriously all you'd have to say to the media is the usual "It just happened so fast...."

Lol, they say its a danger to the public because it is sharp.

If it landed in my back garden, I wouldnt tell them, Id sell it to the highest bidder.

As I see it, if they are going to maintain the position that it is still theirs and they want any surviving pieces back then if it does any damage what so ever, then they are responsible for the costs. Otherwise, getting their pieces back should not even be a consideration.

Never the less, in another country our laws do not apply so in this case NASA should be SOL.