| Auto: | orbit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tianzhou 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Image Alt: | Tianzhou-1 model | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mission Type: | Tiangong-2 resupply | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator: | CNSA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Satcat: | 42684 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spacecraft: | Tianzhou-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spacecraft Type: | Tianzhou | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch Mass: | Under 13000kg (29,000lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dimensions: | 9mx3.35mm (30feetx10.99feetm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch Date: | 20 April 2017, 19:41 (UTC+8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch Rocket: | Long March 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch Site: | Wenchang LC-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disposal Type: | deorbited | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Destroyed: | 22 September 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Docking: |
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| Programme: | Tiangong program | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous Mission: | Shenzhou 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next Mission: | Tianhe core module launch | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Programme2: | Tianzhou program | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next Mission2: | Tianzhou 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Tianzhou 1 was the debut mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft. It was developed as part of the crewed space program of China. Tianzhou means "heavenly vessel" in Chinese. On 20 April 2017, Tianzhou 1 was launched by rocket Long March 7 at China Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. It successfully docked with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory on 22 April 2017 at 12:16 (UTC+8). Tianzhou 1 was deorbited on 22 September 2017. It plunged into Earth's atmosphere and burned up after a set of braking maneuvers under ground control.[1]
See main article: Tianzhou (spacecraft).
It used the first flight model of the Tianzhou. It is a Chinese automated cargo spacecraft developed from the Tiangong-1 to resupply its future modular space station.
Tianzhou 1 launched successfully on 20 April 2017 at 7:41 pm local time, from the Wenchang space center. This marked the second time a Long March 7 had been used and the first time for a mission. Tianzhou-1 became the heaviest Chinese spacecraft ever launched, at that time.[2]
This mission demonstrated the Tianzhou spacecraft and its capabilities. It critically demonstrated propellant transfer for the Chinese space station, the last big hurdle for long-duration expeditions.On April 22, 2017, Tianzhou 1 successfully docked with Tiangong 2 marking the first successful docking of a cargo vessel, and refuelling, with the orbiting space laboratory.[3] It subsequently performed a second docking and refueling on June 15, 2017. After it coupled with Tiangong 2 for a period of 60 days, it decoupled and separated from the space laboratory and completed a three-month period of free flight at around 390 kilometres above the Earth, separately carrying out a range of science experiments. On September 12, 2017, Tianzhou 1 performed the third and final docking and refuel with Tiangong 2, with what is termed a fast docking which took 6.5 hours to complete.[4] Previously the rendezvous and docking process took around two days, or 30 orbits.[5]