Space debris generally does not pose a direct health risk to people on Earth, but there are some rare exceptions. Most space debris burns up when it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere, but larger pieces can survive and fall to the ground.

Potential Health Risks from Space Debris

1. Falling Space Debris (Low Risk)
   • Most debris burns up in the atmosphere, but some larger parts, like fuel tanks or metal fragments, can survive re-entry.
   • In 2022, debris from a Chinese Long March 5B rocket fell uncontrolled over Southeast Asia.
   • In 2023, NASA confirmed that a chunk of a SpaceX Dragon capsule crashed into a farmland in the U.S.
2. Toxic Materials in Debris (Very Rare)
   • Some spacecraft components contain toxic materials like hydrazine (a highly toxic fuel).
   • If debris containing toxic substances reaches the ground, it could contaminate land or water.
3. Interference with Earth’s Infrastructure
   • Space debris can damage satellites used for weather forecasting, communications, and navigation.
   • If a critical satellite is destroyed, it could disrupt emergency services or power grids, indirectly affecting health and safety.

What’s Being Done to Prevent Risks?

• Space agencies like NASA, ESA, and ISRO track debris and design satellites to burn up safely during re-entry.
• Some countries are improving regulations for controlled de-orbiting of large space objects.

Should You Worry?

The chance of being injured by falling space debris is extremely low—only one person is known to have been directly hit by space debris (Lottie Williams, USA, 1997), and she was unhurt. Most debris falls into oceans or uninhabited areas.