It wo n’t be a bird or a airplane : If you look up to the sky next hebdomad , you may see a Chinesespacecrafton one of its last cruises around Earth before it hurtles through our atmosphere and explodes in a fiery hail of debris .
The space lab , called Tiangong-1 ( " Heavenly Palace " ) , was launch by the Formosan blank agency on September 29 , 2011,Space.comreports . It was the agency ’s first module to test bob technology , which is essential for bring astronauts and cargo into space . In its four - and - a - half - year mission , Tiangong-1 successfully tail with one unmanned and two manned spacecraft .
Two yr ago , Chinese officials said Tiangong-1 had completed its charge . Relegated to space - rubble position , the mental faculty began circle the Earth on its slow journey toward oblivion .
Chinese officials say Tiangong-1 is now orbiting Earth every 88 mo at an elevation of 134 miles , and getting closer to our major planet ’s atmosphere each day . It’sexpectedto fall to Earth sometime between early morn on March 30 and early cockcrow on April 2 , with April 1 being the potential sweet stain for skywatchers . ( get across its progresshere . )
As it tumble through space , the 34 - foot - foresightful trade will appear to flicker with different layer of brightness . But its final destination is anyone ’s guess . Taingong-1 is foreshadow to fallanywherebetween 42.8 ° compass north latitude and 42.8 ° south latitude — a circumglobal band roughly between the latitudes of Boston , Massachusetts and Christchurch , New Zealand . That target admit about 80 percent of the immediate United States as well as immense areas of China , Japan , Chile , Argentina , southern Europe , and Australia .
As Tiangong-1 dip into Earth ’s atmosphere , it will wake and break into big glob before crumble further . About 10 mil above Earth , the fiery bit — which could still matter more than 200 pounds — will lose speed and pelting straight down .
As Harvard astrophysicistJonathan McDowelltoldThe Guardianin 2016 , " Yes , there is a chance it will do damage , it might take out someone ’s car , there will be a rain of a few pieces of metal , it might go through someone ’s roof , like if a flap fell off a plane , but it is not widespread damage . "
Be careful out there .
[ h / tSpace.com ]
