China's Tiangong-2 to deorbit in July next year

China's Tiangong-2 space lab will deorbit as planned in July 2019. The decision was announced during a press conference called by the China Manned Space Engineering Office on Wednesday.

[File Photo: People's Daily]

"Tiangong-2 has fulfilled its mission during the two-year time, and all the loads are now in good condition," said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office. “It will be in orbit until July 2019, and then will be controlled to deorbit.”

The space lab, which has been in orbit for two years, was launched in 2016. It performed 14 projects and carried a 600 kg load.