Space lab returns to Earth after nearly three years in orbit

China's Tiangong II space lab made a controlled descent on Friday back into the atmosphere after a 1,036-day space journey, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The spacecraft reentered the atmosphere at 9:06 pm Beijing time after several orbital maneuvers following control signals from Chinese space authorities.

Much of the spacecraft burned up during reentry while a small amount of debris fell in a designated secure area in the South Pacific, the agency said in a statement, adding that the reentry marked the successful completion of China's space lab program.