Tianzhou, meaning "Heavenly Ship," is China’s automated cargo spacecraft developed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to support and resupply the Tiangong space station. Designed with versatility and capability in mind, Tianzhou functions similarly to Russia’s Progress and Japan’s HTV vehicles, yet is uniquely tailored to China’s expanding space infrastructure. This spacecraft plays a pivotal role in enabling long-duration crewed missions by delivering critical supplies such as food, water, scientific equipment, oxygen, and fuel.

Specs

Length: 10.6 meters (35 feet)

Diameter: 3.35 meters (11 feet)

Launch Mass: 13,500 kg (29,800 lbs)

Cargo Capacity: Up to 6,500 kg (14,300 lbs)

With advanced autonomous docking capabilities, Tianzhou can connect to the Tiangong station without crew intervention. Utilizing a sophisticated guidance system, it performs docking and undocking operations independently, which significantly reduces the workload for astronauts. This automation streamlines resupply operations, conserving valuable crew time for other essential tasks.

One of Tianzhou’s standout features is its ability to refuel the space station. In addition to transporting supplies, it transfers propellant to Tiangong, enabling orbital reboosts and maintaining the station’s altitude. This refueling capability is crucial for station-keeping, as Tiangong’s orbit naturally decays due to atmospheric drag, ensuring it remains in a stable orbit for extended missions.

The spacecraft boasts a modular design with both pressurized and unpressurized compartments. The pressurized section is used to carry essential supplies and scientific payloads, while the unpressurized section can be utilized for transporting fuel or other equipment, enhancing the spacecraft's flexibility.

Launched atop a Long March 7 rocket, Tianzhou missions typically conclude with a controlled deorbit, safely burning up over the ocean to reduce space debris. Tianzhou’s first mission, Tianzhou-1, took place in April 2017, marking a significant milestone by demonstrating the spacecraft’s refueling capabilities and successful autonomous docking with Tiangong-2. This mission was pivotal in practicing automated docking operations, preparing for future flights.

Phot courtesy of China National Space Agency.

The Long March 7, or Chang Zheng 7 in pinyin, abbreviated LM-7 for export or CZ-7 within China, originally Long March 2F/H or Chang Zheng 2F/H, nicknamed Bingjian, is a Chinese liquid-fuelled launch vehicle of the Long March family, developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CAST). It made its inaugural flight on 25 June 2016.

Designed as a replacement of the Long March 2F, Long March 7 and its variants are expected to be the workhorse of the fleet, eventually accounting for around 70% of all Chinese launches. Long March 7 will also play a critical role in the Chinese Space Station. It was used to launch the Tianzhou robotic cargo spacecraft, and will eventually replace the Long March 2F as China's crew-rated launch vehicle.

Since 2020, in addition to the base Long March 7 configuration, there is the Long March 7A (CZ-7A etc.) variant which differs from the base CZ-7 by the addition of a liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen third stage inherited from the third stage of the Long March 3B.

Stats

Height: 53.10 m (174.2 ft)

Diameter: 3.35 m (11.0 ft)

Mass: 597,000 kg (1,316,000 lb)

Stages: 2

Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site

Wenchang is a former suborbital test site located in Wenchang, Hainan, China.

It is China's southernmost launch site. Located on an island, rocket stages are delivered via ship.

Construction of the orbital launch pads began in September 2007, and the launch site was completed in October 2014. The first orbital launch took place on June 25th, 2016.

The site has two active launch pads, with a third planned. LC-1 is used to launch the Chang Zheng 5 rocket while LC-2 is used for the Chang Zheng 7 and 8 rocket families.

Operations at Wenchang are managed by the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

This is the Tiangong Space Station, China's large, in-space construction project that will take two years to complete.

The station will have three modules for a crew of three to live and work and will have three sets of solar arrays for power.

It will be one-fifth the size of the International Space Station when complete and about the same size as the former Mir space station.

Construction began with the launch of the Tianhe module on April 29th, 2021.

A second module, Wentian, is planned to launch in July 2022, followed by the Mengtian module in October 2022.

Tiangong is in a 41-degree orbit, meaning it travels as far North as 41 degrees and as far South as 41 degrees latitude when seen from the ground.

It is designed to operate for at least 10 years.

Picture: China Manned Space Engineering Office