Tiangong 1 – Spaceflight Now

September 16, 2026

Breaking News

[ September 15, 2026 ] Live coverage: SpaceX to launch national security payload for U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg Falcon 9
[ September 15, 2026 ] Avio launches pair of climate monitoring European spacecraft to study plants, oceans and atmospheric changes News
[ September 13, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 700th Falcon rocket, carries final 3 O3b mPOWER satellites to orbit for SES Falcon 9
[ September 9, 2026 ] SpaceX launches classified payload for the U.S. Space Force Falcon 9
[ September 5, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 80th Starlink mission of 2026 Falcon 9

Chinese space lab burns up on re-entry over Pacific Ocean

April 2, 2018 Stephen Clark

China’s Tiangong 1 space lab, home to two astronaut crews in 2012 and 2013, fell back to Earth uncontrolled Sunday, likely burning up over the Pacific Ocean as satellite trackers monitored the module’s gradual descent from orbit.

Out-of-control Chinese space lab expected to fall to Earth next year

September 23, 2016 Stephen Clark

China’s Tiangong 1 space lab, replaced by an upgraded human-rated research station launched last week, is heading for an uncontrolled re-entry back into Earth’s atmosphere in late 2017.