NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Tianzhou 2

Launch Time
Sat May 29, 2021 12:55 UTC

First cargo flight to the new Chinese space station.

Rocket

Long March 7
Image Credit: CASC
CASC
Status: Active
Liftoff Thrust: 7,128 kN
Payload to LEO: 13,500 kg
Payload to GTO: 5,500 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 4
Rocket Height: 53.1 m
Fairing Diameter: 4.2 m
Fairing Height: 12.4 m

Mission Details

Tianzhou 2

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

The Tianzhou cargo ship has several notable differences with the Tiangong stations from which it is derived. It has only three segments of solar panels (against 4 for Tiangong) but has 4 maneuvering engines (against 2).

Classically, the Tianzhou space freighter consists of two subassemblies: the service module in which the propulsion, energy system, and various equipment necessary for the operation of the spacecraft is located, and the orbital module containing the cargo.

The service module is similar to the service module of Tiangong 1 with some modifications: a larger number of propellant tanks, and a more powerful propulsion system. The module is 3.3 meters long and has a diameter of 2.8 meters. The main propulsion used for orbital maneuvers consists of 4 rocket engines with a unit thrust of 490 newtons.

The cargo module is 5 meters long and has in its basic version a pressurized bunker to transport cargo with a volume of 15 m3. The front part is equipped with an APAS-type hatch that allows electrical connections to be made, as well as 4 pipelines used to transfer fluids to the space station's tanks.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 13,000.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit

Location

LC-201, Wenchang Space Launch Site, China

Stats

2021

48th orbital launch attempt

Long March 7

5th mission
2nd mission of 2021
4th successful mission
2nd consecutive successful mission