Chinese rocket debris is expected to crash into Earth soon. It's not the first time.

The large Chinese rocket that is out of control and set to reenter Earth's atmosphere this weekend has brought about an alarming but not unprecedented situation Space debris has crashed into Earth on a number of occasions, including last year. The good news is that debris plunging toward Earth -- while unnerving -- generally poses very little threat to personal safety. As Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Center at Harvard University, told CNN: "This is not the end of days."

Still, the episode has fueled fresh questions about space debris, uncontrolled reentry and what precautions might need to be taken, if any. Here's what you need to know.

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