Docking port Fore | Launch site Wenchang LC-2 Launch date 23 April 2017 | |
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Launch mass Under 13,000 kg (29,000 lb) Dimensions 9 m × 3.35 m (29.5 ft × 11.0 ft) Operator China National Space Administration Similar Tianzhou, Tiangong‑2, Chang'e 2, Shenzhou, Chinese large mo | ||
Tianzhou 1 is the planned debut mission of the Tianzhou-class unmanned cargo spacecraft. It is being developed as part of the manned space program of China. Tianzhou means "heavenly vessel" in Chinese. It is planned to dock with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory in the first half of 2017.
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Spacecraft
It will use 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.
Mission
This mission will demonstrate the Tianzhou spacecraft and its capabilities. It will critically demonstrate propellant transfer for the Chinese space station, the last big hurdle for the long duration expeditions.
References
Tianzhou 1 Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA