A New Hazard for Homeowners: Space Debris

In mid-October, a mysterious object cracked the windshield of a Boeing 737 flying high over Utah,

forcing an emergency landing. At first, the internet buzzed with theories about space junk. While the culprit was likely a stray piece of a weather balloon, the online speculation wasn’t completely off base—space debris is becoming a real, if still rare, concern.

Every day, about three pieces of old rockets or defunct satellites fall back through Earth’s atmosphere. By the mid-2030s, that number could jump to dozens. With nearly 13,000 active satellites in orbit today—and as many as 100,000 expected within a decade—experts say more material will be reentering the atmosphere, and not all of it burns up on the way down.

"Landfall Events" are Increasing

While no one has been hurt yet by falling space junk, researchers warn that “landfall events” are increasing, and there have already been some close calls. A metal chunk from the International Space Station punched through the roof of a Florida home last year, narrowly missing the homeowner’s son. Pieces of SpaceX rockets and satellites have also turned up in Canada, Poland, Australia, and Africa—sometimes discovered only because they happened to land where someone noticed.

Part of the challenge is that we still don’t fully understand how much debris survives reentry. Some satellite parts are built from heat-resistant materials like titanium, meaning they can reach the ground intact. Tests suggest larger satellites may drop two or three sizable pieces as they fall apart.

What are The Odds of My Plane Getting Hit?

Aviation officials say the rising number of satellites poses a new safety concern for air travel. By 2035, the FAA estimates that the chance of a commercial plane being struck by space debris could reach about 7 in 10,000 per year—still very small, but no longer negligible. Risks on the ground may grow faster: some researchers project that by the mid-2030s, there could be roughly a 10% annual chance of someone, somewhere on Earth, being injured by falling debris.

Is My House Covered?

Home insurance policies typically cover damage from space debris, including satellites, asteroids, meteors, and other objects from space. This coverage protects the physical structures on your property and personal property within those structures from damage caused by falling objects. However, it is essential to review your specific policy to ensure that space debris is not listed as an exclusion, as this would mean the damage would not be covered.

In the event of a space debris incident, it is recommended to take photos, contact your insurance provider, and file a claim promptly. While the odds as still small a piece of a sattelite will hit your home, the odds are getting higher every year.

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Sources: American Handyman, MIT Technology Review