China’s Tianzhou-1 set for lift-off

China is planning to launch its first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, which will deliver supplies to the orbiting Tiangong-2 laboratory as part of efforts to develop a permanent Chinese space station by 2022

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LONG MARCH-7 Y2

Tianzhou carrier rocket.

Height: 53m


TIANZHOU-1

Uncrewed freighter will demonstrate in-orbit cargo transfer needed to resupply future Chinese space station.

Length: 10m

Weight: 13.5 tonnes (includes six tonnes of cargo)


TIANGONG-2: No crew on board for Tianzhou mission. Hatches between two craft will remain closed


Docking: Tianzhou will dock three times to transfer fuel to Tiangong’s tanks. Mission will also test six-hour fast rendezvous procedure

At end of five-month mission, Tianzhou will be de-orbited and burn up in Earth’s atmosphere

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RUSSIA

CHINA

Beijing

Wenchang Launch site

INDIA

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FUTURE SPACE STATION

Tianzhou

Core cabin module

Crew: 3

Weight: 60 tonnes

Laboratory module 1

Laboratory module 2

Manned spacecraft

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Source: ESA 

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