The spacecraft was supposed to land on a moon of Mars. (courtesy Creative Commons)

The probe landed 775 miles west of Wellington Island in New Zealand and scattered across the Pacific, according to The Daily Beast.  Most of the probe burned in the atmosphere and scientists say it is unlikely that the debris will harm anyone.

The RIA Novosti news agency, however, told the Associated Press that fragments fell over a broader area, including parts of the Atlantic and Brazil.

The spacecraft was supposed to land on the Martian moon of Phobos and gather materials for scientists to use in analyzing the genesis of the solar system, according to the AP.

The spacecraft got stranded in Earth’s orbit after it launched Nov. 9. 

Reach associate news editor Hannah Madans here.