A piece of space debris hit the International Space Station, leaving a hole in the lab's robotic arm.
The Canadian Space Agency's Canadarm2, located outside the station, was damaged but it is still functioning.
The robotic structure has been operational for 20 years and is used for maintenance and photography.
"While utmost precautions are taken to reduce the potential for collisions with the ISS, impacts with tiny objects do occur," the Canadian Space Agency said.
"One such hit was noticed recently during a routine inspection of Canadarm2 on May 12.
"Experts from the Canadian Space Agency and Nasa worked together to take detailed images of the area and assess the impact, which occurred on one of Canadarm2's boom segments."
The agency said the hole was about 5 millimetres in diameter and was visible. The arm boom and thermal blanket had been damaged.
Growing problem of space debris
Space experts have long spoken of the growing problem of space debris.
More than 23,000 objects – all the size of a softball or larger – are tracked round the clock to detect potential collisions with satellites or the ISS.
But tiny objects such as dust particles or flecks of paint from satellites are too small to be monitored.
Some of the large space junk pieces include old satellite parts, dead satellites or rocket bodies.
The European Space Agency said space debris should be a concern to all nations.
“Accidental collisions, explosions and even the intentional destruction of satellites have created millions of debris fragments, which orbiting at high speed can damage or destroy any functioning spacecraft that crosses their path,” the agency said.
Private space company Astroscale launched a space clean-up demonstration mission this year to help reduce junk in orbit.
If successful, the mission could be expanded and would help reduce space debris significantly.
Stunning images of the UAE from space – in pictures
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The UAE (centre-right) is well-lit during the night and is very visible from space. This image was captured from the International Space Station. Nasa -
Nasa astronaut Jessica Meir shared this image of Abu Dhabi two months after Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri returned to Earth from the space station. Jessica Meir Twitter -
A stunning image of Downtown Dubai taken in 2012 by the Pleiades satellite. The Burj Khalifa is visible. European Space Agency -
The largest mosque in Sharjah captured by Emirati satellite KhaliafSat. Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre -
An image of Al Ain in 1984, when there was not a lot of greenery. Abu Dhabi emirate is now considered a green oasis with a major focus in agriculture. Nasa's Earth Observatory -
The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre counted 45,000 palm trees in Al Ain. The satellite images are helping to monitor the quantity and health of thousands of trees. MBRSC -
Umm Al Quwain, one of the seven emirates of the UAE, seen from space. The emirate is on a peninsula and has many attractive sites, including ancient forts. Zoom Earth -
The Corniche Park in Umm Al Quwain (top) and Municipal Park on the bottom side of the image. Zoom Earth -
KhalifaSat captured Jebel Jais, the highest summit in the UAE which is about 2,000 metres above sea level. It also has the world’s longest zipline. MBRSC -
Fujairah is on the east coast of the UAE and is known for its beaches and the Hajar mountains. The mountainous areas are visible in this image, as well as the Fujairah International Airport and the Port Fujairah on the top right. Zoom Earth -
Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island captured from space in 2010. The island is a major tourist attract with a mix of wildlife, archaeological sites and luxury hotel retreats. Nasa -
Dubai seen from the International Space Station. Nasa -
The Strait of Hormuz separates the UAE and Iran. Nasa -
The UAE captured from space in 2013. Nasa’s Earth Observatory -
Hazza Al Mansouri took this photo of Umm Ghafa in Al Ain from the space station in 2019. It is the village where his colleague and reserve astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi grew up. Sultan Al Neyadi twitter -
The Dubai Expo site captured by KhalifaSat in 2019. The much-anticipated event is set to begin on October 1, 2021. MBRSC -
The man-made Love Lake in Dubai’s Al Qudra desert. MBRSC -
Dust blows over the Arabian Gulf in 2013. The UAE is on the right side of this image and Saudi Arabia is on the left. Nasa’s Earth Observatory -
A dust plume over the UAE in 2009. Nasa -
The Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque in Al Ain captured by KhalifaSat. It features a magnificent dome, which measures 86 metres in diameter. MBRSC -
The Copernicus Sentinel 2 mission captured this striking view of Abu Dhabi from space. The dark green patch of land is the Mangrove National Park. Ferrari World can be seen in the centre-right of the image. European Space Agency -
An incredible view of the UAE captured by Hazza Al Mansouri in 2019. Hazza Al Mansouri twitter -
An image of Abu Dhabi taken from the International Space Station as it orbited 423 kilometres above Oman. Nasa -
Planes can be seen parked at Dubai International Airport during the Coronavirus Pandemic in May 2020, when travel was restricted. MBRSC -
KhalifaSat captured this stunning image of Abu Dhabi in 2020. MBRSC -
Another view of the UAE’s capital city of Abu Dhabi from space. MBRSC -
One of the most recent photos of Dubai taken in 2020 from space, showing the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and the World Islands. MBRSC -
Mangroves, salt domes, salt flats and coral reefs on the south-west coast of the UAE, near Abu Dhabi, captured in 2001. Nasa’s Earth Observatory -
The first image captured by KhalifaSat in 2018. It is the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. MBRSC -
A manufacturing site on the Arabian Gulf coast of the UAE, near Abu Dhabi. Nasa
