CHINA’S Tianzhou-5 cargo craft re-entered the atmosphere in a controlled manner at 9:13 a.m. yesterday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Most of the spacecraft’s components burned up during the re-entry, and a small amount of its debris fell into the predetermined safe waters of the South Pacific.

The Tianzhou-5 separated from the orbiting Tiangong space station combination at 4:46 p.m. Monday and switched to independent flight.

Launched Nov. 12, 2022 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, the Tianzhou-5 was loaded with propellants, materials for scientific experiments and supplies for taikonauts.

According to the agency, many application projects carried into space by the Tianzhou-5 are progressing smoothly and have achieved fruitful results. Among them is the Macao Student Science Satellite 1, which was stowed in the cargo craft before being released into orbit Dec. 18, 2022.

This satellite is operating stably in orbit, functioning as a space-based scientific practice platform for amateur radio enthusiasts in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and around the world. (Xinhua)