Tianzhou 6

Tianzhou 6
Tianzhou 1 model
A Tianzhou 3D model
Mission typeTiangong space station resupply
OperatorCNSA
COSPAR ID2023-063A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.56446Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.cnsa.gov.cn
Mission duration253 days, 23 hours and 15 minutes
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftTianzhou-6
Spacecraft typeTianzhou
ManufacturerChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Launch mass13,500 kg (29,800 lb)
Payload mass7,400 kg (16,300 lb)
Dimensions10.6 m × 3.35 m (34.8 ft × 11.0 ft)
Power2
Expedition
Space stationTiangong space station
Start of mission
Launch date10 May 2023, 13:22 UTC[1]
RocketLong March 7
Launch siteWenchang Satellite Launch Center, LC-2
ContractorChina Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
End of mission
DisposalDeorbited
Decay date19 January 2024, 12:37 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Inclination41.5°
Docking with Tiangong space station
Docking portTianhe Aft port
Docking date10 May 2023, 21:16 UTC
Undocking date12 January 2024, 08:02 UTC
Time docked246 days, 10 hours and 46 minutes

Tianzhou 6 (Chinese: ) was the sixth mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft, and the fifth resupply mission to the Tiangong Space Station. Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft was launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, China on a Long March 7 rocket.[2] This was the first mission of the operation phase of Tiangong.[3] It was launched on 10 May 2023 at 13:22 UTC,[4] and docked to the Tiangong Space Station a few hours later.[5][6]

  1. ^ "天舟六號貨運飛船進行發射 70公斤水果供太空站乘組食用" [Tianzhou 6 is launched, there is 70kg of fruit for the space station's crew to eat]. 星島頭條 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 10 May 2023.
  2. ^ "天舟六号货运飞船2023年发射 将从海南文昌"出发"" [Tianzhou 6 will be launched from Wenchang]. hainan.sina.com.cn. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  3. ^ "China successfully launches Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft". alwihdainfo.com. 16 May 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ^ "China launches new cargo mission to space station". Xinhua Net. Huaxia. 10 May 2023. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  5. ^ "天舟六号货运飞船与空间站组合体完成交会对接" [Tianzhou 6 docks with space station combination]. 中国载人航天工程网. 11 May 2023. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  6. ^ "China's cargo craft Tianzhou-6 docks with space station combination". Xinhua Net. Huaxia. 11 May 2023. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.