“China’s first space station is expected to come crashing down to Earth next year, fuelling concerns that Chinese space authorities have lost control of the 8.5-tonne module. The Tiangong-1 or ‘Heavenly Palace’ lab was described as a ‘potent political symbol’ of China’s growing power when it was launched in 2011 as part of an ambitious scientific push to turn China into a space superpower.”
Source: China’s Tiangong-1 space station ‘out of control’ and will crash to Earth | Science | The Guardian