Scientists warn about long-term effects of space debris as huge rocket part thought to have hit Moon

The stray upper stage (section) of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is about the size of a five-storey building, with a mass of at least 4,000kg.

Wayward SpaceX rocket slams into moon, reignites debate over space debris management amid lunar exploration boom

After a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage was believed to have struck the moon on Wednesday after drifting in space for nearly a year, US media AP reported Thursday, citing scientists, this unexpected lunar impact has drawn attention to both scientific opportunities and the growing challenge of managing space debris.

Watch the skies: What are the chances of being hit by a piece of space junk?

Every week, a tonne of space debris falls to Earth as more rockets and satellites go into orbit. Who pays for the damage?
Morning Overview on MSN

A single crash in orbit could set off a runaway chain reaction of space debris

A single high-speed collision in orbit does not stay a single event. When two large satellites smash together, they do not simply stop; they shatter into thousands of fragments, and each fragment becomes a new projectile racing around the planet fast enough to wreck the next spacecraft it strikes.

A Ton of Space Junk Tumbles Unpredictably to Earth Every Week

Flaming chunks of metal crash into homes, farms and parking lots. Who’s to blame? And who pays for the damage?