| Tianzhou 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Image Alt: | Tianzhou 1 model | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mission Type: | Tiangong space station resupply | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator: | CNSA | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cospar Id: | 2021-085A | ||||||||||||||||||
| Satcat: | 49222 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website: | http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Spacecraft: | Tianzhou-3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Spacecraft Type: | Tianzhou | ||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer: | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | ||||||||||||||||||
| Launch Mass: | . | ||||||||||||||||||
| Power: | watts | ||||||||||||||||||
| Space Station: | Tiangong space station | ||||||||||||||||||
| Launch Date: | 20 September 2021, 07:10:11 UTC | ||||||||||||||||||
| Launch Rocket: | Long March 7 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Launch Site: | Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, LC-201 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Launch Contractor: | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology | ||||||||||||||||||
| Decay Date: | 27 July 2022, 03:31 UTC | ||||||||||||||||||
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit | ||||||||||||||||||
| Orbit Regime: | Low Earth orbit | ||||||||||||||||||
| Orbit Inclination: | 41.5° | ||||||||||||||||||
| Apsis: | gee | ||||||||||||||||||
| Docking: |
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| Insignia Size: | 200px | ||||||||||||||||||
| Programme: | Tiangong program | ||||||||||||||||||
| Previous Mission: | Shenzhou 12 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Next Mission: | Shenzhou 13 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Programme2: | Tianzhou program | ||||||||||||||||||
| Previous Mission2: | Tianzhou 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Next Mission2: | Tianzhou 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
Tianzhou 3 was a mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft, launched on 20 September 2021, at 07:10:11 UTC.[1] Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft was launched from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, China on a Long March 7 launch vehicle.
Tianzhou 3 was the second cargo resupply mission to the Tianhe core module (TCM) of the under-construction Tiangong space station, carrying over six tons of supplies. The spacecraft successfully docked at the TCM's aft port seven hours after launch at 14:08 UTC.
On 20 April 2022, Tianzhou 3 successfully relocated itself from Tianhe's aft port to the forward port to make the aft port available for docking by Tianzhou 4.[2] On 17 July it was undocked for deorbiting, making way for the installation of the Wentian module.[3] It reentered the Earth's atmosphere and burned up as planned on 27 July 2022.[4]
See main article: Tianzhou (spacecraft). The Tianzhou cargo ship has several notable differences with the Tiangong stations from which it is derived. It has only three segments of solar panels (against 4 for Tiangong), but has 4 maneuvering engines (against 2).[5]