Tianzhou (spacecraft)

Last updated
Tianzhou
Tianzhou Cargo Spaceship.jpg
Tianzhou 2 cargo spacecraft prior to launch
Manufacturer CASC
Country of originFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Operator CMSA
Applications Tiangong Space Station resupply
Specifications
Spacecraft type Automated cargo spacecraft
Launch mass13,500 kg (29,800 lb) (basic);
14,000 kg (31,000 lb) (improved)
Payload capacity6,900 kg (15,200 lb) (basic);
7,400 kg (16,300 lb) (improved)
Dimensions10.6 m × 3.35 m (34.8 ft × 11.0 ft)
Volume40 m3 (1,400 cu ft) [1]
Production
StatusActive
On order1
Built8
Launched7
Operational1
Maiden launch Tianzhou 1
Last launch Tianzhou 7
Related spacecraft
Derived from Tiangong-1
Powered by4× 490 N main engines, 32 attitude control engines (25, 120, 150 N thrust) [2]

The Tianzhou (Chinese :天舟; pinyin :Tiān Zhōu; lit.'Heavenly Ship') is a Chinese automated cargo spacecraft developed from China's first prototype space station Tiangong-1 to resupply its modular space station. It was first launched (Tianzhou 1) on the Long March 7 rocket from Wenchang on April 20, 2017 [3] and demonstrated autonomous propellant transfer (space refueling). [4] [5]

Contents

The first version of Tianzhou has a mass of 13,500 kg and can carry 6,500 kg of cargo. Tianzhou-6 is the first improved version of the spacecraft to be launched into orbit; it has a mass of about 14,000 kg and can transport 7,400 kg of cargo. [6]

Rendering of Tianzhou spacecraft. Tianzhou Rendering.png
Rendering of Tianzhou spacecraft.

Function

Based on the Tiangong-1 space station, the Tianzhou functions as the main automated cargo spacecraft for the Tiangong space station. It has pressurized, semi-pressurized and unpressurized cargo capabilities, and is able to transport airtight cargo, large extravehicular payloads and experiment platforms. It was first launched on the new Long March 7 rocket from Wenchang on April 20, 2017. [4] [7]

Name

The China Manned Space Engineering Office opened a consultation for the naming of the prospective cargo ship on April 25, 2011. By May 20, it had received more than 50,000 suggestions. [8] On July 8, Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut and deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed that they had a short list of ten names. [9] On October 31, 2013, it was revealed that the spacecraft had been named Tianzhou (Chinese :天舟; pinyin :Tiān Zhōu; lit.'Heavenly Boat'), combining the Chinese names of the Tiangong (Chinese :天宫; pinyin :Tiān Gōng) space stations and the Shenzhou (Chinese :神舟; pinyin :Shén Zhōu) spacecraft. They also stated that they would use the two letter identification TZ. [10]

Missions

Tianzhou spacecraft were initially flown to the Tiangong space station every 6 months. From Tianzhou 6 onward, missions have been flown with the new version of Tianzhou with increased cargo capacity, allowing the launch frequency to be reduced to three ships every two years. [11]

No.SpacecraftS/NLaunch (UTC) Carrier
Rocket
Launch
Pad
Docking (UTC)Deorbit (UTC)Remarks
Station/
Port
DockingUndocking
1 Tianzhou 1 11:41,April 20, 2017(UTC) Long March 7 Wenchang LC-2 Tiangong-2 Forward04:16,April 21, 2017(UTC) [12] 08:15,September 22, 2017(UTC)10:00,September 22, 2017(UTC)Maiden flight of the Tianzhou spacecraft. First Tianzhou flight to Tiangong-2. [12]
2 Tianzhou 2 12:55,May 29, 2021(UTC) [13] [14] Long March 7 Wenchang LC-2 Tianhe Aft [lower-alpha 1] [13] 21:01,May 29, 2021(UTC) [13] [14] 07:59,March 27, 2022(UTC)10:40,March 31, 2022(UTC)First Tianzhou flight to the Tiangong space station. [15] [16]
3 Tianzhou 3 07:10,September 20, 2021(UTC) [17] Long March 7 Wenchang LC-2 Tianhe Aft [lower-alpha 2] 14:08,September 20, 2021(UTC) [18] 02:59,July 17, 2022(UTC)03:31,July 27, 2022(UTC)Second Tianzhou flight to the Tiangong space station. [19]
4 Tianzhou 4 17:56,May 9, 2022(UTC) Long March 7 Wenchang LC-2 Tianhe Aft00:54,May 10, 2022(UTC)06:55,November 9, 2022(UTC)23:21,November 14, 2022(UTC)Third Tianzhou flight to the Tiangong space station. [20]
5 Tianzhou 5 02:03,November 12, 2022(UTC) Long March 7 Wenchang LC-2 Tianhe Aft04:10,November 12, 2022(UTC)08:46,September 11, 2023(UTC)02:13,September 12, 2023(UTC)Fourth Tianzhou flight to the Tiangong space station. [21]
6 Tianzhou 6 13:22,May 10, 2023(UTC) Long March 7 Wenchang LC-2 Tianhe Aft21:16,May 10, 2023(UTC)08:02,January 12, 2024(UTC)12:37,January 19, 2024(UTC)Fifth Tianzhou flight to the Tiangong space station. [22]
7 Tianzhou 7 14:27,January 17, 2024(UTC) Long March 7 Wenchang LC-2 Tianhe Aft17:46,January 17, 2024(UTC)TBATBASixth Tianzhou flight to the Tiangong space station. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese space program</span> Space program of the Peoples Republic of China

The space program of the People's Republic of China is about the activities in outer space conducted and directed by the People's Republic of China. The roots of the Chinese space program trace back to the 1950s, when, with the help of the newly allied Soviet Union, China began development of its first ballistic missile and rocket programs in response to the perceived American threats. Driven by the successes of Soviet Sputnik 1 and American Explorer 1 satellite launches in 1957 and 1958 respectively, China would launch its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong 1 in April 1970 aboard a Long March 1 rocket, making it the fifth nation to place a satellite in orbit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiangong program</span> Space station program of the Peoples Republic of China

The Tiangong program is China's space program to create a modular space station, comparable to Mir. This program is independent and unconnected to any other international space-active countries. The program is part of the China Manned Space Program that began in 1992. The core module of the Tiangong space station, the Tianhe was finally launched on 29 April 2021 marking the start of the Tiangong Space program deployment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiangong space station</span> Chinese space station (2021–Present)

Tiangong, officially the Tiangong space station, is a permanently crewed space station constructed by China and operated by China Manned Space Agency. Tiangong is a modular design, with modules docked together while in low Earth orbit, between 340 and 450 km above the surface. It is China's first long-term space station, part of the Tiangong program and the core of the "Third Step" of the China Manned Space Program; it has a pressurised volume of 340 m3, slightly over one third the size of the International Space Station. The space station aims to provide opportunities for space-based experiments and a platform for building capacity for scientific and technological innovation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China Manned Space Program</span> Spaceflight programme in China

The China Manned Space Program, also known as Project 921 is a space program developed by the People's Republic of China and run by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) under the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission, designed to develop and enhance human spaceflight capabilities for China. It was approved on 21 September 1992 and has been in operation ever since. The CMS commander and director are currently Xu Xueqiang and Zhou Jianping respectively; the latter has held this position since 2006, after taking over from Wang Yongzhi, who served as the first director from 1992 to 2006.

<i>Tianhe</i> core module Module of the Tiangong space station

Tianhe, officially the Tianhe core module, is the first module to launch of the Tiangong space station. It was launched into orbit on 29 April 2021, as the first launch of the final phase of Tiangong program, part of the China Manned Space Program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tianzhou 1</span> 2017 Chinese resupply spaceflight to Tiangong-2

Tianzhou 1 was the debut mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft. It was developed as part of the crewed space program of China. Tianzhou means "heavenly vessel" in Chinese. On 20 April 2017, Tianzhou 1 was launched by rocket Long March 7 at China Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. It successfully docked with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory on 22 April 2017 at 12:16 (UTC+8). Tianzhou 1 was deorbited on 22 September 2017. It plunged into Earth's atmosphere and burned up after a set of braking maneuvers under ground control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tianzhou 2</span> 2021 Chinese resupply spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Tianzhou 2 was a mission of the Tianzhou-class unmanned cargo spacecraft. The launch took place at 29 May 2021, 12:55:29 UTC. The spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong space station later on the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 13</span> 2021 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Shenzhou 13 was a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 15 October 2021. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission was the eighth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the thirteenth flight overall of the Shenzhou program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mengzhou (spacecraft)</span> Chinese deep-space crewed spacecraft in development

The Mengzhou, formerly known as the Next-Generation Crewed Spacecraft, is a type of reusable spacecraft developed and manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The prototype of the spacecraft underwent its first uncrewed test flight on 5 May 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 12</span> 2021 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Shenzhou 12 was a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 17 June 2021. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission was the seventh crewed Chinese spaceflight and the twelfth flight overall of the Shenzhou program. It was the first flight to Tiangong, and the first Chinese crewed spaceflight since Shenzhou 11 in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tianzhou 3</span> 2021 Chinese resupply spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Tianzhou 3 was a mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft, launched on 20 September 2021, at 07:10:11 UTC. Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft was launched from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, China on a Long March 7 launch vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tianzhou 4</span> 2022 Chinese resupply spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Tianzhou 4 was the fourth mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft, and the third resupply mission to Tiangong Space Station carrying 5 tons of cargos and 1 ton of propellant. It is the largest load capacity cargo spacecraft that is on active duty. It launched on 9 May 2022, docking successfully with the Tiangong space station at the aft port 6 hours after launch. Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, China on a Long March 7 rocket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 14</span> 2022 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Shenzhou 14 was a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 5 June 2022. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission was the ninth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the fourteenth flight overall of the Shenzhou program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 15</span> 2022 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Shenzhou 15 was a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 29 November 2022. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission was the tenth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the fifteenth flight overall of the Shenzhou program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tianzhou 5</span> 2022 Chinese resupply spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Tianzhou 5 was the fifth mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft, and the fourth resupply mission to the Tiangong Space Station. Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft was launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, China on a Long March 7 rocket. It was successfully placed into orbit on 12 November and docked to the Tiangong space station on the same day. The rendezvous and docking process lasted 2 hours and 7 minutes, setting a world record for the fastest rendezvous and docking between a spacecraft and a space station, surpassing Soyuz MS-17's 3 hours and 3 minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tianzhou 6</span> 2023 Chinese resupply spaceflight

Tianzhou 6 was the sixth mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft, and the fifth resupply mission to the Tiangong Space Station. Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft was launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, China on a Long March 7 rocket. This was the first mission of the operation phase of Tiangong. It was launched on 10 May 2023 at 13:22 UTC, and docked to the Tiangong Space Station a few hours later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 18</span> 2024 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong space station

Shenzhou 18 is a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 25 April 2024. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission is the thirteenth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the eighteenth flight overall of the Shenzhou program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tianzhou 7</span> 2024 Chinese resupply spaceflight

Tianzhou 7 is the seventh mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft, and the sixth resupply mission to the Tiangong Space Station. Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft was launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, China on a Long March 7 rocket.

References

  1. Initially docked to aft port, moved to forward port on 18 Sep 2021, and then again to portside port on 6 Jan 2022
  2. Initially docked to aft port, moved to forward port on 20 Apr 2022
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