What`s Happened to China`s Tiangog-1 Space Station?

Given their huge size and population, it’s inevitable China are going to make the international news from time to time. However, this time, it’s definitely not good news. They appear to be having problems with their space station, and it could have an impact on someone other than themselves. Read on for the key information on their space-based mishap.

What went wrong?

China seems to be on a quest to become a giant of the space industry and potentially compete with the likes of US and Russia. They’ve invested a lot of time and money in the cause. In 2011, they launched their first prototype space station, the Tiangong-1. Translating to ‘Heavenly Palace (1)’, the Tiangong-1 was launched unmanned, with an initial lifespan of four years. It actually went beyond this four-year lifespan though. And now, it’s ready to come down. Wait… How?

Potential impact

Weighing over 8,000 kilograms, the space station has orbited Earth more than 19,000 times at heights of around 370km. Chinese authorities have now announced it will return to the Earth’s atmosphere in late 2017, after completing its mission. According to these authorities, the Tiangong-1 will mostly burn up and disintegrate as it falls. Unfortunately, most experts don’t seem to believe them.

Their uncertainty surrounding the date of its return has led most people to believe they’re uncertain about other things. Worryingly, this means they might not know where, or in fact how – in what form – it’s going to come down. So despite the alleged success of the mission, there could be chunks of over 80kg flying down to earth.

Some good news? According to Chinese news agency, Xinhuan, China will continue to monitor the space station, so they should be able to provide a forecast for any falling debris. But the way they’ve apparently lost control of it in the first place doesn’t fill you with confidence. In the meantime, they’ll be launching their second space station, Tiangong-2.

Chinese progress

While they might be struggling to get going in their astronomical research, China are thriving in other areas. But one area of particular interest is laboratory supplies. Major suppliers in this industry are setting up in China because of the increased savings on manufacturing costs. But is this beneficial to the companies being supplied? ‘Is Supplier Consolidation a Good Strategy in Emerging Markets?’ looks into this issue, including whether buyers are changing the way they source supplies.