1979: After American space station Skylab crashes to earth over the town of Esperance, Western Australia the National Parks Service issues a $400 fine to NASA for littering.
Did NASA ever pay up?
Taken from MentalFloss:
NASA never paid off the $400 fine, but in 2009, 30 years after Skylab’s reentry, California radio DJ Scott Barley asked listeners to donate money so they could finally clear NASA’s books.
Though the Mayor of Esperance told Barley the ticket had been “written off years ago,” he and his listeners cobbled together the $400 and sent it to the town. For his efforts, Barley was invited to Esperance and received a key to the city.
NASA, to its credit, hasn’t littered in the Shire of Esperance since the Skylab incident.
The first Australian-hosted Miss Universe was held in the same year (1979) in Perth, the West Australian state capital. Pieces of SkyLab wreckage were displayed on-stage during the event.
The stage later collapsed following the announcement of the winner, reportedly sending 25 people on a 2 metre (~6'5") drop and resulting in a few temporary hospitalisations.
