Tianzhou

Mission Profile

Tianzhou is China's uncrewed cargo spacecraft, developed to resupply the Tiangong Space Station with propellant for refueling, pressurized cargo, and equipment. First launched on 20 April 2017 aboard a Long March 7 to the Tiangong-2 space laboratory, Tianzhou 1 conducted China's first orbital propellant transfer, a critical technology for long-duration station operations. The spacecraft can deliver approximately 6.9 tonnes of cargo including 2 tonnes of propellant per mission, docking autonomously at the Tiangong station's rear port. Tianzhou missions serve as the primary resupply link for the Tiangong CSS, complementing crew rotations by Shenzhou vehicles to maintain the station's operational readiness.