Source:
https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2127263/china-dismisses-suggestions-its-tiangong-1-spaceDiplomacy
China dismisses suggestions its Tiangong-1 space station is out of control
Tiangong-1 is being continuously monitored, expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere in first half of this year
A 3D animation of China’s Shenzhou-8 spacecraft docks with Tiangong-1 in this computer simulation. Some experts have suggested the space lab, which was originally planned to be decommissioned in 2013, might be out of control. Photo: Xinhua
China’s Tiangong-1 space station is not out of control and does not pose a safety threat, a top Chinese space flight engineer said on Monday, after reports that the station was falling towards the Earth.
The Tiangong-1, or “Heavenly Palace 1”, China’s first space lab, was launched into orbit in 2011 to carry out docking and orbit experiments as part of the country’s ambitious space programme, which aims to place a permanent station in orbit by 2023.