[answerguy]

Just curious what the legalities would be in regards to having a piece of the Columbia land on your property. I know what the right thing to do would be and that's give it to the authorities so they can try to figure out what happened. But could the feds legally require you to give it up? Can they go on your property to look for the debris without your permission? Just curious as to what others think.

[XLMiguel]

From what I've seen/heard, it's "Government Property" and you will be in deep kimshee if you get caught holding on to it. They've been pretty blunt about messing with being a felony in Texas & Louisana. I'm sure they can come on your land as part of the investigatrion, and maybe you could fight it, but it'd be expensive and you'd likely loose, and why would you anyway?. The Feds continue to actively go after folks who advertise stuff from the Challenger event on e-Bay and confiscate it (don't know if they prosecute). My $.02.

[jmbg29]

One of the lawyer types here would know better than I do, but I suspect that the rules of salvage A.K.A flotsam and jetsam would apply.flotsam, jetsam, and ligan[flt´sm, jt´sm, l´gn] Pronunciation Key [O.Fr.], in maritime law, goods lost at sea as distinguished from goods washed ashore (wreck). Goods that remain floating on the surface after a shipwreck or accident are called flotsam (or floatsam or flotsan), while jetsam refers to goods thrown overboard, or jettisoned (see jettison), by a vessel in distress. Ligan (or lagan) designates goods that are sunk in the sea and have a buoy or floating object attached to them as a mark of ownership or in order that they may be found again. Such goods found by other persons must be returned to the owner, while flotsam and jetsam must be returned only if the owner makes a proper claim. The rules of salvage apply to all three types of goods. That's all I know.

[TexasVet]

The FeeBIes on the local news are loudly and repeatedly quoting a law that makes "theft of Government property" worth 10 years and $250,000. And frankly, if anybody walks off with any of that stuff I tagged, showed the sheriff's deputy and GPS'd (is that a verb now?) and I find out about it, they may not have to worry about coming up with that 250K.
I don't ever remember hearing any private property claims standing in the way of aircraft debris recovery, and I'll bet if anybody ever brought it up they got shut down pretty quick by some law or other.

[mjustice]

I had a big argument with a co-worker about this today. It's clearly Federal property, and there was (and is) no intention of them abandoning it.

Personally, I don't think the risk of chemical burns is reason enough to leave the stuff where I found it and call in the EPA or whomever is the responsible party. That hydrazine stuff that is on some of the parts is pretty toxic.

For those who had property damaged as a result of the "mishap" (NASA's word, not mine), they have set up a process for filing claims. I guess that is the best they can do under the circumstances.

Anyone willing to bet if they find enough parts to put it back together (like they do with airplanes after a crash)? The guy who said that they will be finding this stuff for the next 10 years knew what he was talking about ...

MJ

[Blackhawk]

Hindering or obstructing an active investigation is more likely the problem. The parts won't be salvagable until the government quits looking for them. The Challenger debris is probably still on the active investigation list....

[answerguy]

Does the government, claiming ownership of the debris as part of an investigation, imply liability for any damage it caused when it came down?

Just wondering.

[XLMiguel]

Yes, from watching the news I gather that there is a claims procedure. They were showing someone's house with some damage to the roof, stating that NASA would make good on it, didn't get any further details.

[Dannyboy]

They showed 2 guys getting arrested yesterday for being in possession of debris. Somebody said that, good or bad, those 2 are an example.

[Mike Irwin]

I don't think anyone could make a case for maritime law in this situation.

It's not flotsam or jetsam if it comes down on land.

Maritime law applies to the high seas, which aren't part of any single nation's territory.

[Blackcloud6]

As to Columbia parts showing up on eBay, didin't you know that Ford made shuttle parts?

[answerguy]

Maybe I'm dense but I don't get it.

As to Columbia parts showing up on eBay, didin't you know that Ford made shuttle parts?