Tianzhou 4

Tianzhou 4
Tianzhou 1 model
A 1:144 scale Tianzhou 1 model
Mission typeTiangong space station resupply
OperatorCNSA
COSPAR ID2022-050A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.52509
Websitewww.cnsa.gov.cn
Mission duration6 months and 5 days
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftTianzhou-4
Spacecraft typeTianzhou
ManufacturerChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Dry mass6,640 kg (14,640 lb)
Dimensions10.6 m × 3.35 m (34.8 ft × 11.0 ft)
Power2
Expedition
Space stationTiangong space station
Start of mission
Launch date9 May 2022, 17:56:37 UTC[1]
RocketLong March 7
Launch siteWenchang Satellite Launch Center, LC-2
ContractorChina Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
End of mission
DisposalDeorbited
Decay date14 November 2022, 23:21 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination41.5°
Docking with Tiangong space station
Docking portTianhe Aft port
Docking date10 May 2022, 00:54:00 UTC
Undocking date9 November 2022, 06:55 UTC
Time docked183 days, 6 hours and 1 minute

Tianzhou 4 (Chinese: 天舟四号) 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,[1] docking successfully with the Tiangong space station at the aft port 6 hours after launch.[2] Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, China on a Long March 7 rocket.[3]

It is a part of the construction of the Tiangong space station, and is the third cargo resupply mission to the already launched Tianhe core module (CCM).

  1. ^ a b "China launches Tianzhou 4 cargo craft to new Tiangong space station". Space.com. 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  2. ^ "Chinese unmanned cargo spacecraft docks with space station module".
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).