Out-of-Control Chinese Space Station Expected to Hit Earth Around April 1

A Chinese space station is expected to fall out of orbit and hit the Earth in the coming days, The Hill reported on Sunday.

China launched the Tiangong-1 satellite in 2011 but has reportedly lost control of it. The object, which is the size of a school bus, is not expected to survive reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. However, debris could hit a couple of areas.

Any debris that does hit the Earth is likely to land in the ocean or an unpopulated area, although The Washington Post reports that scientists have warned that it could fall within the borders of Spain, Portugal, France and Greece.

Aerospace said that the space station is expected to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere on April 1, give or take three days, and added that someone is one million times more likely to win the Powerball jackpot than to be hit by its debris.

The nonprofit research firm also said that the satellite may be visible for "up to a minute or more," depending on the time of day and location.

Scientists became aware that the space station would hit Earth at some point soon after it stopped responding to Chinese commands in 2016, Space.com reported.

Tiangong-1 is currently spinning around Earth at 17,500 miles per hour, which is approximately one revolution around Earth every 90 minutes, according to the Post.

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