【Just a Stranger】

Source：Co-creation Information Network Editor：Deals Time：2025-06-26 11:55:29

The Just a StrangerTiangong-1 should complete its fiery journey back to Earth sometime on Sunday night.

The Chinese space station has been circling the planet in a gradually degrading orbit since it was decommissioned in late 2016. It is now expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere -- and mostly burn up in the process -- sometime before 12:00 a.m. ET.

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In fact, the latest estimate as of Sunday morning -- from noted astronomer Jonathan McDowell -- points to a significantly earlier re-entry, sometime during the 6:00 p.m. ET hour.

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The European Space Agency's own estimate concurs on the general timeframe, though it's not nearly as specific. The organization's rocket science blog notes that Tiangong-1 should arrive sometime between "the night of 1 April to the early morning of 2 April (in UTC time)." (UTC is Eastern Time + 4 hours.)

Less clear is where the space station -- or what's left of it, anyway -- will land. The ESA's estimate paints a broad picture, noting only that it should fall somewhere between 43ºN latitude and 43ºS latitude.

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Just so we're all clear on how large an area that covers, here's what it looks like on a map. Tiangong-1's remains could land anywhere inside the green zone.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

"Since it could come down at any time in [the estimated re-enty timeframe], it could come down anywhere it passes over during that period," McDowell told Mashable recently.

"We won't have the faintest clue more precisely where until a few hours before reentry, and maybe not even then."

Also unclear is how much of the space station will actually survive the re-entry. Most of the 34-foot-long craft should break apart and burn up on its way down. What's more, any pieces that do survive re-entry are unlikely to land in a populated area.

McDowell shared a helpful tweet from self-described "amateur astronomer" Tony Rice, who tweeted out an image demonstrating the likely process and course of Tiangong-1 breaking apart.

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The station's orbital path has been on a course for a late-March/early-April re-entry for days and weeks. It's been in space since 2011, though it was formally replaced in 2016 when Tiangong-2 launched.

If you're hoping to keep closer tabs on Tiangong-1's final descent, find some helpful tips from Mashable's Miriam Kramer right here.

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