In recent years, there have been several instances of space debris falling to Earth, including a piece from a SpaceX spacecraft landing in a farmer’s field in Saskatchewan. Barry Sawchuk, the farmer who found the debris, remained unfazed and simply stated, “It is what it is.” The object appeared to be a burned-up piece of carbon fiber with aluminum honeycombed in between, along with a hydraulic cylinder. After reaching out to an astronomy professor, it was determined that the object was likely linked to a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that had returned to Earth in February.
The increasing number of active satellites in orbit is due to the private sector’s involvement in the space race. Samantha Lawler, the astronomy professor, expressed concerns about the potential hazards of space debris falling to Earth. She highlighted the fact that some debris could cause harm to individuals if it landed in populated areas such as Regina or Toronto. Despite the relatively low risk of space debris hitting someone on the ground, there is still a potential for damage or casualties if it were to land on property. In such cases, the country responsible for the space object would be held liable under the Outer Space Treaty.
Thomas Cheney, a space law expert, explained that any damage caused on Earth by a space object is the full liability of the country responsible for it. In the case of the debris in Sawchuk’s field, negotiations for compensation are ongoing between the farmer and the company responsible. Cheney noted that such negotiations for direct compensation from the company to the affected party are not uncommon. With the increasing number of objects being launched into space, both Lawler and Cheney suggest that updates may be needed to current regulations surrounding outer space activities to prevent potential hazards to individuals on Earth.
Cheney emphasized the importance of international bodies continuing to improve regulations to ensure the safety of individuals on Earth. He stated that pressure could be placed on these bodies to keep making improvements to prevent potential disasters if space debris were to crash into a major city. The negotiations for compensation regarding the debris found in Sawchuk’s field are still ongoing, with no set number yet determined. Global News reached out to SpaceX for comment on the negotiations but did not receive a response at the time of publication.
Overall, the incident involving the space debris found in Sawchuk’s field highlights the potential risks and liabilities associated with objects falling to Earth from space. With the increasing number of satellites and spacecraft in orbit, it is essential for regulations to be updated to ensure the safety of individuals and property on the ground. The ongoing negotiations for compensation demonstrate the complexities involved in determining responsibility and liability in such cases.
