BEIJING, July 8 -- The Tianzhou-8 cargo craft, tasked with carrying supplies for China's space station, separated from the station combination at 3:09 p.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time) and switched to independent flight, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The cargo craft will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere in a controlled manner. Most of its components will burn up and be destroyed during the process, while a small amount of debris will fall into designated safe waters, the CMSA said.

Tianzhou-8 was launched on Nov. 15, 2024 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, and then docked with the orbiting Tiangong space station on Nov. 16.