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Tianzhou

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description Tianzhou Overview

Tianzhou is China's uncrewed cargo spacecraft for supplying the Tiangong space station in low Earth orbit. First flown in 2017, it carries propellant, equipment, experiments, food, and other provisions, while also supporting orbital refuelling and station operations. After completing a mission, a Tianzhou vehicle can be loaded with waste and deliberately deorbited, allowing it and its contents to burn up during atmospheric re-entry.

help Tianzhou FAQ

What is the Tianzhou spacecraft used for?

Tianzhou is China's uncrewed cargo resupply spacecraft designed to deliver supplies to orbital space stations. It currently serves as the primary logistics vehicle for the Tiangong space station.

When did China first successfully launch the Tianzhou cargo vessel?

The spacecraft first successfully flew in 2017 with the launch of Tianzhou 1. This inaugural mission successfully docked with the Tiangong-2 space lab to demonstrate autonomous in-orbit refueling.

How much cargo can a Tianzhou spacecraft carry?

Tianzhou is a massive vehicle capable of carrying over 6,000 kilograms of cargo into orbit. It is designed to transport both pressurized and unpressurized payloads, as well as liquid propellant for refueling the space station.

Does the Tianzhou spacecraft return to Earth?

No, Tianzhou vehicles are completely disposable and not designed to survive reentry. After delivering their cargo to the Tiangong space station, they are filled with trash and intentionally de-orbited to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

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