The international space station travels at a distance of about 250 miles above Earth’s surface and at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour. Even though space dust and debris can be tiny, 1 centimeter or less in size with a mass of 10 grams or less, there is always fear that the space station will sustain damage from a collision with a small piece of space debris. Why should scientists be concerned about a collision with such a tiny object?