(CNN) A Chinese space lab could plummet back to Earth in the next 24 hours, authorities say, in a fiery end to one of the country's highest profile space projects.

The 40-foot long Tiangong-1 or "Heavenly Palace," is expected to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere between Sunday night and Monday morning US eastern time, according to the latest updates from the European Space Agency and the China Manned Space Engineering Office. Earlier estimates put the date as late as April 4.

Scientists have emphasized the danger of being hit by falling debris is tiny, as low as one in 1 trillion , as the structure is likely to burn up in the atmosphere during reentry.

"There is no need for people to worry about its re-entry into the atmosphere," an article by the China Manned Space Engineering Office published on state media said.

"It won't crash to the Earth fiercely, as in sci-fi movie scenarios, but will look more like a shower of meteors."