Super-fast space junk punches hole through space station

A small hole was discovered in the ISS's Canadarm2, a robotic arm used for maneuvering objects. Despite the damage, the arm is functioning normally. The incident highlights the growing problem of space debris, which poses a significant threat to the ISS and other satellites. With millions of tiny fragments orbiting Earth, the risk of collision is increasing, necessitating emergency maneuvers to avoid damage.

What is the estimated number of fragments of man-made materials orbiting Earth?

What challenges do smaller fragments of space debris pose?