China&nbsp;said Friday the&nbsp;risk&nbsp;of&nbsp;damage&nbsp;from&nbsp;a&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;falling back to&nbsp;Earth&nbsp;was "extremely&nbsp;low" after the United States warned it could crash down&nbsp;on&nbsp;to an inhabited area.

Military experts in the US expect the body of the Long March 5B&nbsp;rocket, which separated&nbsp;from&nbsp;Beijing's space station, to come down sometime around Saturday or Sunday, but warned it was difficult to predict where it will land and when.

But Beijing downplayed the&nbsp;risk&nbsp;of danger.

"The probability of causing harm to aviation activities or (on&nbsp;people and activities)&nbsp;on&nbsp;the ground is&nbsp;extremely&nbsp;low," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

Most of the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;components would likely be destroyed upon&nbsp;re-entry&nbsp;into the atmosphere, he added, saying authorities "will inform the public of the situation in a timely manner".

China&nbsp;has poured billions of dollars into space exploration in efforts to reflect its rising global stature and growing technological might, following in the extra-terrestrial footsteps of the United States, Russia and Europe.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-closely-tracking-uncontrolled-chinese-rocket-re-entering-atmosphere-pentagon-383094">US closely tracking uncontrolled Chinese rocket re-entering atmosphere: Pentagon</a>

As fevered speculation over the&nbsp;rocket's trajectory back to&nbsp;Earth&nbsp;pinballed across social media, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday said the US military had no plans to shoot it down.

"We have the capability to do a lot of things, but we don't have a plan to shoot it down," Austin told journalists.

Hopefully, he said, the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;will land "in a place where it won't harm anyone... the ocean, or someplace like that".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/concerns-mount-as-giant-chunk-of-chinese-rocket-is-falling-to-earth-382914">Concerns mount as giant chunk of Chinese rocket is falling to Earth</a>

Even if the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;or parts of it do fall&nbsp;from&nbsp;the sky, without breaking up&nbsp;on&nbsp;re-entry, there is a good chance it will just splash down into the ocean&nbsp;on&nbsp;a planet made up of 70 per cent water.&nbsp;

But Austin suggested that the Chinese were negligent in letting the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;body fall out of orbit, saying those who were in the "space domain" should "operate in a safe and thoughtful mode".

'Nation of science'

Space has become the latest theatre for the big power play between&nbsp;China&nbsp;and the United States.

The launch of&nbsp;China's first module of its "Heavenly Palace" space station in April,&nbsp;housing life support equipment and living space for astronauts,&nbsp;was a milestone in Beijing's ambitious plan to establish a permanent human presence in space.

President Xi Jinping called it a key step in "building a great nation of science and technology".

With the retirement of the International Space Station after 2024,&nbsp;China's could become the only space station in&nbsp;Earth's orbit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/china-launches-first-module-for-new-space-station-381270">China launches first module for new space station</a>

Although Chinese space authorities have said they are open to foreign collaboration, the scope of that cooperation is as yet unclear.

The European Space Agency has sent astronauts to&nbsp;China&nbsp;to receive training in order to be ready to work inside the Chinese space station once it is launched.

China&nbsp;also said in March it was planning to build a separate lunar space station with Russia.

The facility, planned for either the surface or in the orbit of the Moon, would house experimental research facilities and would be Beijing's biggest international space cooperation project to date.

The Long March&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;is not the first time&nbsp;China&nbsp;has lost control of a spacecraft as it returns to&nbsp;Earth.&nbsp;

The space laboratory Tiangong-1 disintegrated upon&nbsp;re-entry&nbsp;into the atmosphere in 2018, two years after it had stopped working, though Chinese authorities denied they had lost control of the ship.&nbsp;

China said Friday the risk of damage from a rocket falling back to Earth was "extremely low" after the United States warned it could crash down on to an inhabited area.

China said Friday the risk of damage from a rocket falling back to Earth was "extremely low" after the United States warned it could crash down on to an inhabited area. Military experts in the US expect the body of the Long March 5B rocket, which separated from Beijing's space station, to come down sometime around Saturday or Sunday, but warned it was difficult to predict where it will land and when. But Beijing downplayed the risk of danger. "The probability of causing harm to aviation activities or (on people and activities) on the ground is extremely low," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. Most of the rocket components would likely be destroyed upon re-entry into the atmosphere, he added, saying authorities "will inform the public of the situation in a timely manner". China has poured billions of dollars into space exploration in efforts to reflect its rising global stature and growing technological might, following in the extra-terrestrial footsteps of the United States, Russia and Europe. Also read | US closely tracking uncontrolled Chinese rocket re-entering atmosphere: Pentagon As fevered speculation over the rocket's trajectory back to Earth pinballed across social media, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday said the US military had no plans to shoot it down. "We have the capability to do a lot of things, but we don't have a plan to shoot it down," Austin told journalists. Hopefully, he said, the rocket will land "in a place where it won't harm anyone... the ocean, or someplace like that". Also read | Concerns mount as giant chunk of Chinese rocket is falling to Earth Even if the rocket or parts of it do fall from the sky, without breaking up on re-entry, there is a good chance it will just splash down into the ocean on a planet made up of 70 per cent water. But Austin suggested that the Chinese were negligent in letting the rocket body fall out of orbit, saying those who were in the "space domain" should "operate in a safe and thoughtful mode". 'Nation of science' Space has become the latest theatre for the big power play between China and the United States. The launch of China's first module of its "Heavenly Palace" space station in April, housing life support equipment and living space for astronauts, was a milestone in Beijing's ambitious plan to establish a permanent human presence in space. President Xi Jinping called it a key step in "building a great nation of science and technology". With the retirement of the International Space Station after 2024, China's could become the only space station in Earth's orbit. Also read | China launches first module for new space station Although Chinese space authorities have said they are open to foreign collaboration, the scope of that cooperation is as yet unclear. The European Space Agency has sent astronauts to China to receive training in order to be ready to work inside the Chinese space station once it is launched. China also said in March it was planning to build a separate lunar space station with Russia. The facility, planned for either the surface or in the orbit of the Moon, would house experimental research facilities and would be Beijing's biggest international space cooperation project to date. The Long March rocket is not the first time China has lost control of a spacecraft as it returns to Earth. The space laboratory Tiangong-1 disintegrated upon re-entry into the atmosphere in 2018, two years after it had stopped working, though Chinese authorities denied they had lost control of the ship.

China says 'extremely low' risk of damage from rocket debris

China said today its <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/tiangong-1-space-labs-re-entry-into-earth-imminent-china-127728">space lab named Tiangong-1</a> broke up into pieces as it headed towards Earth in the South Pacific.

The eight-tonne Tiangong-1 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/tiangong-1-space-labs-re-entry-into-earth-imminent-china-127728">"mostly" burnt up above the vast ocean's </a>central region at 8:15 am (0015 GMT), China's Manned Space Engineering Office said.

China had earlier predicted the space lab would re-entry over the Atlantic.

In the past week, speculation has been growing over the fate of the space lab. &nbsp;Tiangong-1 which in Mandarin means "Heavenly Palace” has been out of China's communication radar since 2017.

The space lab was originally planned to be decommissioned in 2013 but its mission was repeatedly extended.&nbsp;

China had said last year that its reentry would be delayed leading several experts to speculate that it had lost control of the space lab.

It is still unknown whether the debris from the space lab has entered the Earth's atmosphere.

The space lab was originally planned to be decommissioned in 2013 but its mission was repeatedly extended.

China said today its space lab named Tiangong-1 broke up into pieces as it headed towards Earth in the South Pacific. The eight-tonne Tiangong-1 "mostly" burnt up above the vast ocean's central region at 8:15 am (0015 GMT), China's Manned Space Engineering Office said. China had earlier predicted the space lab would re-entry over the Atlantic. In the past week, speculation has been growing over the fate of the space lab. Tiangong-1 which in Mandarin means "Heavenly Palace” has been out of China's communication radar since 2017. The space lab was originally planned to be decommissioned in 2013 but its mission was repeatedly extended. China had said last year that its reentry would be delayed leading several experts to speculate that it had lost control of the space lab. It is still unknown whether the debris from the space lab has entered the Earth's atmosphere.

Watch: Tiangong-1 space lab broke up over South Pacific: China

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/government-to-file-scst-review-petition-today-127736">Government to file SC/ST review petition today</a>

Union Minister of Law Ravi Shankar Prasad took to his Twitter account on Sunday to inform that the Union Government on Monday will file a review petition against the Supreme Court judgment regarding the legal clause of immediate arrest and registration of alleged cases under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/tiangong-1-space-lab-broke-up-over-south-pacific-china-127731">Tiangong-1 space lab broke up over South Pacific: China</a>

China said today its space lab named Tiangong-1 broke up into pieces as it headed towards Earth in the South Pacific. The eight-tonne Tiangong-1 "mostly" burnt up above the vast ocean's central region at 8:15 am (0015 GMT), China's Manned Space Engineering Office said.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/india-replaces-vietnam-to-become-second-largest-mobile-phone-producer-after-china--127743">India replaces Vietnam to become second largest mobile phone producer after China</a>

India's mobile phone users have been increasing by the day, various reports suggest the same and now, another study points at the fact that Indian mobile manufacturing industry is leaving no stone unturned to meet the ever-expanding demand.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/bodies-of-38-indians-killed-in-iraq-to-be-brought-back-to-india-today-127739">Bodies of 38 Indians killed in Iraq to be brought back to India today</a>

The mortal remains of 38 out of 39 Indians, who were killed by the Islamic State in Iraq, are due to reach India late today. Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh, who is overseeing the entire process of bringing back the bodies, left for Mosul on Sunday. He said that one man's remains would not be brought as his case was still pending.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/cameron-diaz-calls-it-quits-confirms-retirement-127727">Cameron Diaz calls it quits, confirms retirement</a>

Prominent Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz has made an announcement lately that she has retired from acting, thus putting an end to her cinematic career. Diaz last appeared in the 2014 remake of musical 'Annie,' in which she starred alongside Jamie Foxx

Government to file SC/ST review petition today Union Minister of Law Ravi Shankar Prasad took to his Twitter account on Sunday to inform that the Union Government on Monday will file a review petition against the Supreme Court judgment regarding the legal clause of immediate arrest and registration of alleged cases under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. Tiangong-1 space lab broke up over South Pacific: China China said today its space lab named Tiangong-1 broke up into pieces as it headed towards Earth in the South Pacific. The eight-tonne Tiangong-1 "mostly" burnt up above the vast ocean's central region at 8:15 am (0015 GMT), China's Manned Space Engineering Office said. India replaces Vietnam to become second largest mobile phone producer after China India's mobile phone users have been increasing by the day, various reports suggest the same and now, another study points at the fact that Indian mobile manufacturing industry is leaving no stone unturned to meet the ever-expanding demand. Bodies of 38 Indians killed in Iraq to be brought back to India today The mortal remains of 38 out of 39 Indians, who were killed by the Islamic State in Iraq, are due to reach India late today. Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh, who is overseeing the entire process of bringing back the bodies, left for Mosul on Sunday. He said that one man's remains would not be brought as his case was still pending. Cameron Diaz calls it quits, confirms retirement Prominent Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz has made an announcement lately that she has retired from acting, thus putting an end to her cinematic career. Diaz last appeared in the 2014 remake of musical 'Annie,' in which she starred alongside Jamie Foxx

News brief: Big stories of the day

China today confirmed the <a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/photos/chinese-'out-of-control'-space-station-tiangong-1-may-crash-on-earth-tonight-127602">10.4-metre-long (34.1-foot) Tiangong-1</a> space lab launched in 2011 is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and land somewhere off Sao Paulo.

China had said last year that its reentry would be delayed leading several experts to speculate that it had lost control of the space lab.

The space lab was originally planned to be decommissioned in 2013 but its mission was repeatedly extended.

In the past week, speculation has been growing about its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. China says it will fall off Sao Paulo, however, Beijing had said on Friday that it is unlikely any large pieces will reach the ground.

The space lab is widely believed to burn up as it enters the Earth's atmosphere. Reports say there has&nbsp;been no&nbsp;contact with Tiangong-1 for the past two years.

Tiangong-1 which in Mandarin means “Heavenly Palace” weighs&nbsp;nearly 8.5 tonnes.

It still remains to be seen if the debris will fall into the Earth's atmosphere.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The space lab is widely believed to burn up as it enters the Earth's atmosphere.

China today confirmed the 10.4-metre-long (34.1-foot) Tiangong-1 space lab launched in 2011 is set to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and land somewhere off Sao Paulo. China had said last year that its reentry would be delayed leading several experts to speculate that it had lost control of the space lab. The space lab was originally planned to be decommissioned in 2013 but its mission was repeatedly extended. In the past week, speculation has been growing about its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. China says it will fall off Sao Paulo, however, Beijing had said on Friday that it is unlikely any large pieces will reach the ground. The space lab is widely believed to burn up as it enters the Earth's atmosphere. Reports say there has been no contact with Tiangong-1 for the past two years. Tiangong-1 which in Mandarin means “Heavenly Palace” weighs nearly 8.5 tonnes. It still remains to be seen if the debris will fall into the Earth's atmosphere.

Tiangong-1 space lab's re-entry into Earth imminent: China

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China says 'extremely low' risk of damage from rocket debris

Watch: Tiangong-1 space lab broke up over South Pacific: China

News brief: Big stories of the day

Tiangong-1 space lab's re-entry into Earth imminent: China