Tianzhou 1
{{Short description|2017 Chinese resupply spaceflight to Tiangong-2}}
{{Infobox spaceflight |auto = orbit
| name = Tianzhou 1
| names_list =
| image = Tianzhou-1 paper model.png
| image_caption = A 1:144 scale Tianzhou-1 model
| image_alt = Tianzhou-1 model
| image_size =
| mission_type = Tiangong-2 resupply
| operator = CNSA
| Harvard_designation =
| COSPAR_ID =
| SATCAT = 42684
| website =
| mission_duration = {{time interval|2017-04-20 11:41:35|2017-09-22 10:00|show=dh}}
| distance_travelled =
| orbits_completed =
| suborbital_range =
| suborbital_apogee =
| spacecraft = Tianzhou-1
| spacecraft_type = Tianzhou
| spacecraft_bus =
| manufacturer =
| launch_mass = Under {{convert|13000|kg|abbr=on}}
| BOL_mass =
| landing_mass =
| dry_mass =
| payload_mass =
| dimensions = {{convert|9|x|3.35|m|abbr=on}}
| power =
|space_station =
|start_date =
|end_date =
|arrival_craft =
|departure_craft =
| launch_date = 20 April 2017, 19:41 (UTC+8)
| launch_rocket = Long March 7
| launch_site = Wenchang LC-2
| launch_contractor =
| deployment_from =
| deployment_date =
| entered_service =
| disposal_type = deorbited
| deactivated =
| destroyed = 22 September 2017
| last_contact =
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| apsis =
| docking =
{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
| docking_target = Tiangong-2
| docking_type = dock
| type_override =
| docking_port = Fore
| docking_date = 22 April 2017, 04:23 UTC
| undocking_date = 19 June 2017, 01:37 UTC
| capture_date =
| release_date =
| time_docked = {{time interval|2017-04-22 04:23|2017-06-19 01:37|show=dhm}}
}}
{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
| docking_target = Tiangong-2
| docking_type = dock
| docking_port = Fore
| docking_date = 19 June 2017, 06:55 UTC
| undocking_date = 21 June 2017, 01:16 UTC
| time_docked = {{time interval|2017-06-19 06:55|2017-06-21 01:16|show=dhm}}
}}
{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
| docking_target = Tiangong-2
| docking_type = dock
| docking_port = Fore
| docking_date = 12 September 2017, 15:58 UTC
| undocking_date = 17 September 2017, 08:15 UTC
| time_docked = {{time interval|2017-09-12 15:58|2017-09-17 08:15|show=dhm}}
}}
| payload_items =
| cargo_mass =
| cargo_mass_press =
| cargo_mass_unpress =
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| trans_HPBW =
| programme = Tiangong program
| previous_mission = Shenzhou 11
| next_mission = Tianhe core module launch
| insignia =
| insignia_caption =
| insignia_alt =
| insignia_size =
| programme2 = Tianzhou program
| next_mission2 = Tianzhou 2
}}
Tianzhou 1 ({{zh |c = {{linktext|天|舟|一|号}} }}) 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.{{cite web |url = https://www.space.com/38254-china-deorbits-resupply-spacecraft-tianzhou-1.html |title = FChinese Cargo Spacecraft Burns Up in Earth's Atmosphere |author = Leonard David |date = 25 September 2017 |website = Space.com }}
Spacecraft
{{Main|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.
Launch
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.{{cite news |url = https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/20/tianzhou-1-launch/ |title = First supply ship for Chinese space station lifts off on test flight |author = Stephen Clark |date= 20 April 2017 |website = Spaceflight Now }}
Mission
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.{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/22/tiangong-1-chinas-first-cargo-spacecraft-docks-with-orbiting-space-lab |title = Tiangong-2: China's first cargo spacecraft docks with orbiting space lab |publisher=Guardian |date=22 April 2017 |access-date=15 September 2017 }} 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.{{cite news |url = https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/17/chinese-space-station-freighter-concludes-refueling-demo-mission/ |title = Chinese space station freighter concludes refueling demo mission |website = Spaceflight Now |first=Stephen |last=Clark |date=17 September 2017 |access-date=5 May 2018 }} Previously the rendezvous and docking process took around two days, or 30 orbits.{{cite web |url = https://gbtimes.com/chinas-tianzhou-1-cargo-craft-and-tiangong-2-space-lab-perform-final-orbital-docking |title = China's Tianzhou-1 cargo craft and Tiangong-2 space lab perform final orbital docking |publisher = GBTimes |date = 12 September 2017 |access-date = 15 September 2017 |archive-date = 15 August 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180815164519/https://gbtimes.com/chinas-tianzhou-1-cargo-craft-and-tiangong-2-space-lab-perform-final-orbital-docking |url-status = dead }}
References
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Tianzhou-1}}
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{{China space station}}
{{Shenzhou program}}
{{Orbital launches in 2017}}
{{Portal bar|China|Spaceflight}}