 A 1:144 scaleTianzhou 1 model | |
| Mission type | Tiangong space station resupply |
|---|---|
| Operator | CNSA |
| COSPAR ID | 2021-085A |
| SATCATno. | 49222 |
| Website | http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/ |
| Mission duration | 309 days, 20 hours and 21 minutes |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Tianzhou-3 |
| Spacecraft type | Tianzhou |
| Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
| Launch mass | . |
| Dry mass | 6,640 kg (14,640 lb) |
| Dimensions | 10.6 m × 3.35 m (34.8 ft × 11.0 ft) |
| Power | watts |
| Expedition | |
| Space station | Tiangong space station |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 20 September 2021, 07:10:11UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 7 |
| Launch site | Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, LC-201 |
| Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology |
| End of mission | |
| Decay date | 27 July 2022, 03:31 UTC |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Inclination | 41.5° |
| Docking withTiangong space station | |
| Docking port | Tianhe Aft port |
| Docking date | 20 September 2021, 14:08 UTC[1] |
| Undocking date | 19 April 2022, 21:02 UTC |
| Time docked | 211 days, 6 hours and 54 minutes |
| Docking withTiangong space station (Relocation) | |
| Docking port | Tianhe Forward port |
| Docking date | 20 April 2022, 01:06 UTC |
| Undocking date | 17 July 2022, 02:59 UTC[2] |
| Time docked | 88 days, 1 hour and 53 minutes |
Tianzhou 3 (Chinese:天舟三号) was a mission of theTianzhou-class uncrewed cargospacecraft, launched on 20 September 2021, at 07:10:11UTC.[1] Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft was launched fromWenchang Satellite Launch Center inHainan, China on aLong March 7launch vehicle.
Tianzhou 3 was the second cargo resupply mission to theTianhe core module (TCM) of the under-constructionTiangong 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 byTianzhou 4.[3] On 17 July it was undocked for deorbiting, making way for the installation of theWentian module.[2] It reentered the Earth's atmosphere and burned up as planned on 27 July 2022.[4]
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]
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