Need more clarification on the second blank!

GRE Verbal Problem Solving
1

Pasting a solution to a GregMat Verbal TC 2 Blanker Question on the website.

image
image1776×443 41.9 KB

I agree with the word selected for the second blank, however, for the first blank I am not entirely sold on the idea of selecting dire, mainly because of the time contrast present. I believed the first blank would support a word like minute or small consequences so far. Could anyone help me get some clarity on this?

2

I think maybe the contrast is between “space debris” and “human debris” which are different things?