'Out of control' Chinese space station may crash into Earth tonight
Authored By Wion Web Desk
Published: Mar 31, 2018, 20:26 IST | Updated: Mar 31, 2018, 20:26 IST
China's Tiangong-1 spacecraft will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere at some point on late Sunday night or Monday morning
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Tiagong's entry into Earth's atmosphere
The Manned Space Agency did not specify a time when it expects the craft to enter the atmosphere in its statement on Sunday.
Representational image.
Representational image.
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Large pieces 'unlikely' to reach Earth
No one knows for sure where debris may land though many experts believe much of the station will burn up during re-entry. Beijing said on Friday that it is unlikely any large pieces will reach the ground.
Representational image.
Representational image.
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Tiagong-1 likely to crash on Earth on Monday
South Korea's National Space Situational Awareness Organization said on its website Sunday that the station is expected to re-enter the atmosphere sometime between 5:12 a.m. and 1:12 p.m. Seoul time (2012 GMT to 0412 GMT) on Monday.
Representational image.
Representational image.
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Tiangong-1, aka 'Heavenly Palace 1'
The 10.4-metre-long (34.1-foot) Tiangong-1, or "Heavenly Palace 1", was launched in 2011 to carry out docking and orbit experiments as part of China's ambitious space programme, which aims to place a permanent station in orbit by 2023.
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Tiangong's mission.
Tiangong's mission
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'Out of control' Tiangong-1
China had said its re-entry would occur in late 2017 but that process was delayed, leading some experts to suggest the space laboratory is out of control.
Representational image.
Representational image.
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