China ’s first space station , Tiangong-1,is doomed to plummet into Earth ’s atmosphere within the come months .
Tiangong-1 , which means “ The Heavenly Palace " , was launched into compass back in 2011 . This relatively low 10.3 - meter - long ( 34 - human foot - recollective ) space post was China ’s first blank - laboratory module , making it a major milestone in their drive to become a science power . However , after fulfill its historical deputation , its communication connection fell silent in March 2016 and its mission was terminated .
Now , the space place is returning from the heavens after idly orbiting Earth for the preceding few months .
Jonathan McDowell , an astrophysicist at the Harvard - Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics , toldthe Guardianon October 13 : “ Now that [ its ] perigee is below 300 kilometer [ 186 miles ] and it is in denser atmosphere , the charge per unit of decay is get higher . ”
“ I expect it will come down a few months from now – previous 2017 or former 2018 , ” he add .
In August 2017 , the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs ( UNOOSA)issued a statementsaying Tiangong-1 would re - enter at some point between October 2017 and April 2018 .
“ Most of the structural component of Tiangong-1 will be destroyed through burning during the course of its re - unveiling , ” added UNOOSA . “ The probability of endangering and make terms to aviation and land natural process is very low . ”
Wu Ping , deputy director of China ’s manned space engineering office , alsotold a press conferencelast twelvemonth : " base on our calculation and analytic thinking , most parting of the space science laboratory will burn up during falling . "
However , it is possible that small rubble no big than 100 kg ( 220 quid ) will strain Earth ’s surface , concord to McDowell . Far magnanimous man - made aim have previously made uncontrolled re - entry into Earth ’s atmosphere without too much drama . Most notably , Russia ’s place post Mir – weighing a sizable 120,000 kilograms ( 265,000 pounds ) – plummeted to Earth in 2001 .
So , while you should not expect a spectacular crash , it does signify you might be fortunate enough to see streaks of debris from Tiangong-1 cut up in Earth ’s atmospheric state . you’re able to give chase the location and progress of poor quondam Tiangong-1 through the websiteHeavens - Above , however the exact day of the month of its return to Earth remain unknown for now .
