With a massive dead NASA satellite due to plunge back to Earth this week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is laying the groundwork for a fast response in case the 6 1/2-ton spacecraft falls over American soil.

The defunct spacecraft, called the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), is projected to make and uncontrolled, fiery fall on Friday, plus or minus a day, according to NASA.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44595042/ns ... ?gt1=43001

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History shows again and again how nature points up the folly of man

Hmmm... Probably a good thing. I doubt many insurance policies cover space debris.

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"Too Soon from the Cave, Too Far from the Stars"

Here an interesting bulletin out of the UK from last year summarizing the state of the law regarding space debris.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/documents/upload/postpn355.pdf

Mostly it's concerned with things going "bump" while _in_ space but the general thrust of international law right now is: If you throw it up you are responsible for it until it comes back down. All satellite launches are insured for the whole life of the thing -- or so this bulletin claims.

Cosmic debris, e.i. meteors, are considered an Acts of God. The Almighty is probably well indemnified but filling out those forms on stone tablets is a drag....

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"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."
--PKD