Chinese space lab crashes in Pacific Ocean

April 02, 2018 09:17

China's prototype space station, Tiangong-1, today crashed in the Pacific Ocean, according to the country's space agency.

The spacecraft re-entered the earth's atmosphere at 00:15 GMT (0545 hrs IST) today over the South Pacific and mostly burnt up on re-entry, China's state-run news agency Xinhua confirmed.

The United States military too confirmed the re-entry of Tiangong-1 with a statement from its Joint Force Space Component Command.

"UPDATE: #JFSCC confirmed #Tiangong1 reentered the atmosphere over the southern Pacific Ocean at ~5:16 p.m. (PST) April 1. For details see http://www.space-track.org @US_Stratcom @usairforce @AFSpaceCC @30thSpaceWing @PeteAFB @SpaceTrackOrg," a tweet from 18 Space Control Squadron (18SPCS) said.

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.

It was originally planned to be decommissioned in 2013 but its mission was repeatedly extended.

However, China told the United Nations last year that the space lab "ceased functioning" in March 2016, without giving any reasons.

In September 2016, the country successfully launched Tiangong-2 space lab, which was put into orbit.

In 1979, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's first space station, Skylab fell to Earth during its re-entry to the atmosphere, burning up harmlessly in the process.

The last space lab to fall to Earth was Russia's 135-ton Mir space lab in 2001. -- ANI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Maha portfolio: Fadnavis gets Home, Ajit, Shinde get...

Shiv Sena's Dadaji Bhuse is the new school education minister while Uday Samant continues to be the industries minister.

Govt tweaks election rule; why is ECI afraid, asks Cong

Based on the recommendation of the Election Commission (EC), the Union law ministry on Friday amended Rule 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, to restrict the type of "papers" or documents open to public inspection.

Character assassination: Allu Arjun on stampede row

Hours after Reddy slammed the actor for holding a roadshow and waving to the crowds at the theatre, without referring to anyone, the 'Pushpa 2' star refuted the allegations and said it was not a procession or a roadshow.

Trudeau in trouble as ally vows to 'bring him down'

The future of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership appears increasingly uncertain after New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh, a key ally, said he would introduce a motion to topple the minority Liberal...

Ferry passengers planned throwing kids into sea: CISF

A team of CISF marine commandos rescued dozens of passengers from a sinking tourist ferry off the Mumbai coast, preventing panicked parents from throwing their children into the sea. The commandos reached the accident site within minutes...