Tianzhou (spacecraft)

Tianzhou

Tianzhou 2 cargo spacecraft prior to launch
Manufacturer	CASC
Country of origin	China
Operator	CMSA
Applications	Tiangong Space Station resupply
Specifications
Spacecraft type	Automated cargo spacecraft
Launch mass	13,500 kg (29,800 lb) (basic); 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) (improved)
Payload capacity	6,900 kg (15,200 lb) (basic); 7,400 kg (16,300 lb) (improved)
Dimensions	10.6 m × 3.35 m (34.8 ft × 11.0 ft)
Volume	40 m3 (1,400 cu ft)[1]
Production
Status	Active
On order	1
Built	8
Launched	8
Operational	1
Maiden launch	Tianzhou 1
Last launch	Tianzhou 8
Related spacecraft
Derived from	Tiangong-1
Powered by	4× 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]

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]