Chinese space authorities have confirmed they have lost control of the country’s first space station ‘Tiangong-1’, which is expected to crash into Earth’s atmosphere in 2017. Most of the 8.5-tonne-station’s parts are predicted to burn during the fall. The station, launched in 2011, was used as a testbed for technologies that will be used in China’s large modular space station.

The announcement appeared to confirm months of speculation that China had lost control of the 10.4m-long module after it suffered some kind of technical or mechanical failure

The Tiangong-1 or “Heavenly Palace” lab was described as a “potent political symbol” of China’s growing power when it was launched  as part of an ambitious scientific push to turn China into a space superpower.

Space enthusiasts who have been monitoring Tiangong-1, and attempting to draw attention to its plight, fear there is a risk – albeit small – that pieces of the falling lab could cause damage back on earth.