Chinese space station Tiangong-1 is predicted to crash back to Earth over the Catholic Easter long weekend and Australia is a likely target.

The space station, which name means 'celestial palace' in Chinese, was launched in 2011 and, after completing its scientific missions, was decommissioned in 2016.

Shortly after its retirement rumors began to circulate that China had lost communication with the 8.5 tonne piece of equipment as it hurtled through orbit.

'It seems they lost communication link to the space station so there is no data link,' Dr Xiaofeng Wu from Sydney University told ABC.

Dr Wu, a space engineer, explained that if there was no signal link between the space station and ground control then engineers had no ability to direct where the satellite would land.

Since being decommissioned the altitude of the space station has been steadily decreasing and it now appears the object will de-orbit and smash into Earth over the Catholic Easter long weekend.

It is not currently confirmed whether notoriously secretive China has been able to maintain or re-establish links with Tiangong-1, which would let them fire engines at the last minute to avoid land collisions.

Currently the craft completes an orbit of the planet every one and a half hours at speeds of 28,000 kilometres per hour, with its trajectory varying between the latitudes of 43 degrees south and 43 degrees north.

Read more on Dailymail.