Does Home Insurance Cover Damage from Space Debris?

The Soviet Union kicked off the Space Age in 1957 when it launched the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik. Since then, governments and private companies worldwide have hoisted more than 15,000 satellites into orbit. Although the majority of these launches have been successful, some haven’t been. Most recently, a pair of test launches by SpaceX experienced “rapid unscheduled disassembly” and showered debris over a wide area before even reaching space.

Whether or not they successfully make it into orbit, satellites, booster rockets and related space paraphernalia are subject to the adage “What goes up must come down.” When they do succumb to gravity, the results can be unpredictable, and space debris damage can literally occur anywhere. If that gives you chills, take comfort in the fact that the sheer amount of surface area on the planet makes the likelihood of space debris landing on your property very small.

But it isn’t zero, so if the improbable happens and your property suffers space debris damage, will you be covered by your homeowner’s insurance? We asked insurance experts Melanie Musson and Erika Tortorici about your chances of recovering damage expenses, and in this post, we’ll tell you what they said. (Spoiler alert: Your chances are pretty good).

What Is Space Debris?

Many of the satellites that have been launched over the years are no longer operational, and occasionally, one of them — or a part of a spent rocket — falls into a low enough orbit to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. Such debris usually burns up, but if it’s big and heavy enough, it may break into pieces large enough to make their way to the ground.

Case in point: Scientific American reported that a Soviet satellite with a reactor aboard crashed into northern Canada in 1978, spraying a Florida-sized area with radioactive waste. According to CBS News, a part of a SpaceX Dragon capsule landed on an Australian sheep farm in 2022, while a 1,000-pound metal ring believed to be from a launch vehicle fell on a village in Kenya on December 30, 2024.

Some orbiting material is simply waste that was discarded under the assumption that allowing it to burn up in the atmosphere is the most efficient way to dispose of it. In another instance reported by Scientific American, a two-pound piece of debris discarded by the International Space Station crashed through the roof of a home in Naples, Florida, on March 8, 2024, continuing all the way through the house and through the floor.

How do you know if it’s space debris?

Unlike a meteorite, which is basically a lump of rock charred by frictional heat, space debris has recognizable human origins. After analysis, NASA was able to identify the debris that fell in Naples as part of a battery pack because it contained a super alloy called Inconel, which is often used in aerospace operations.

Debris that fell in a Saskatchewan field in 2024 bore a strong resemblance to that which fell in Australia, which was identified by SpaceX as being part of a cargo trunk. It looked like “the charred, battered hood of a semitruck covered with woven carbon fiber,” according to Scientific American.

Meanwhile, the human origin of the metal ring that fell in Kenya was obvious.

What Is Space Debris Damage?

Space debris damage is something that normally happens in space. The high speeds at which objects travel in orbit give them enormous momentum. When they collide, the resulting forces are strong enough to puncture holes in metal, destroy electronic systems and disable working spacecraft.

When objects in low orbits encounter the upper layers of the atmosphere, frictional forces reduce their speed sufficiently to make them fall earthward. Only large, heavy objects capable of withstanding the heat of reentry without burning up can reach the ground. When they do, they aren’t traveling at the high speeds they were in orbit. But they are still moving fast enough to damage buildings and kill or injure people and animals. This is also a type of space debris damage, and although it isn’t as extreme as the damage that happens in orbit, it’s consequential.

How Likely Is It That Space Debris Will Land On Your Home?

The chances are infinitesimal — about one in a trillion, according to Aerospace.org. By contrast, the chances of your home being struck by lightning are about one in 1.4 million — roughly one million times more.

Does Home Insurance Cover Space Debris Damage?

Musson and Tortorici agreed that your homeowner’s policy should cover damage from space debris. “The only way your policy would not cover the damage is if space debris was a named exclusion,” said Musson. That’s unlikely because space debris damage is too rare a phenomenon to be named on most policies, but that could change if the number of such damage incidents increases, she said.

Would you be liable if someone was struck by space debris while on your property? That’s unlikely, according to Totorici. “Liability coverage typically protects homeowners if they’re found responsible for injuries on their property. Since space debris is entirely beyond a homeowner’s control, liability is unlikely.” However, she stressed the importance of reviewing your policy to make sure you have the proper coverage.

What To Do If You Suspect Space Debris Landed On Your Property

Under the terms of international agreements signed in the late ’60s and early ’70s, the government of the country that launched the spacecraft is responsible for damage and injuries caused by falling debris. In the case of SpaceX, that would be the U.S. government. These agreements are pretty much outdated, and they only apply to the countries that signed them. To complicate matters, SpaceX has been known to retrieve debris it owns unilaterally and without government oversight.

Given the uncertainty, the best thing to do is to contact your insurance company, file a claim and let the company contact the relevant authorities and hash out the details. While you’re waiting for a resolution, it’s best to avoid disturbing the debris unless you have to.

About the Experts

• Melanie Musson is a published insurance and finance expert and an agent for Clearsurance.com, a one-stop insurance marketplace.
• Erika Totorici is the owner and principal of Optimum Insurance Solutions, a broker of home, auto, apartment and life insurance.

Sources

• Scientific American: A New, Deadly Era of Space Junk Is Dawning, and No One Is Ready; (2024)
• Scientific American: Space-Junk Strike in Florida Signals New Era of Orbital Debris; (2024)
• CBS News: Space debris weighing over 1,000 pounds reportedly crashes into village in Kenya; (2025)
• Aerospace.org: Space Debris 101; (2025)

The post Does Home Insurance Cover Damage from Space Debris? appeared first on Family Handyman.

For top-notch cleaning services, look no further than mj cleaning services, where quality and customer satisfaction are our top priorities. Whether you're in need of a one-time cleaning or ongoing maintenance, m j cleaning services offers a wide range of options to suit your requirements. With a reputation for excellence, m.j. cleaning services delivers professional and reliable cleaning solutions to ensure your home or office stays pristine and welcoming.