If a satellite owned by NASA or XM radio ( or anyone who owns a satellite ) falls out of orbit and crashes into my house or car, could I sue them for damages? How much damage would that kind of crash cause?
First question: If it was a privately owned satellite, definitely, and if it was a government-owned satellite, probably (although under the FTCA, you basically have to show the goverment was negligent).
Second question: it depends on how big a piece hit your house. An object re-entering the atmosphere will get hot and be buffeted by aerodynamic forces, which usually does not leave much to continue on to the ground. But a solid chunk like a thruster chamber or a structural member (like the Skylab pieces that re-entered back in the 70s) could get through. It is within the realm of possibility that a chunk like that could punch a hole in your roof. It’s pretty unlikely that a big enough piece to really obliterate your house could get through. When there is a risk of that, steps are taken to make sure the satellite comes down in an uninhabited area. If something damaged your house, and you could prove that the government knew there was a risk and decided against taking any precautions, you would probably win damages.
You certainly can! You can sue for anything you like. The judge may throw it out of court, but you can still sue.
Yeah I’ve heard of people getting money from NASA because their houses were damaged by the sonic booms of shuttles coming back to earth!