China’s Tiangong-1 space station crash: How China lost control of its ‘Heavenly Palace’

China’s out-of-control space station plummeted back to Earth on Monday, burning up in the atmosphere somewhere over the South Pacific Ocean.

Its final resting place and remains are still a mystery. The China Manned Space Engineering Office said that most of the 34ft-long, 11ft-wide space station’s components were "ablated" during re-entry.

Click Here: collingwood magpies 2019 training guernsey

With accommodation for two astronauts, China’s first space station blasted into orbit aboard a Long March rocket in 2011.

The last crew left in 2013 and Tiangong 1 – translated as Celestial Palace 1 – reached the end of its operational life in 2016, gradually getting closer to Earth ever since.

The station was considered to be a “potent political symbol” of…

To continue reading this article

Start a 30-day free trial for unlimited access to Premium articles

Unlimited access to Premium articles
Subscriber-only events and experiences
Cancel any time

Free for 30 days

then only £2 per week

Try Premium

Save 25% with an annual subscription

Just £75 per year

Save now

Register for free and access one Premium article per week

Only subscribers have unlimited access to Premium articles.Register for free to continue reading this article
RegisterOr unlock all Premium articles.
Free for 30 days, then just £1 per week
Start trial
Save 40% when you pay annually.
View all subscription options |
Already have an account? Login