On CNSA –China National Space Administration The Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft will be in Readiness From Wenchang Spacecraft launch Center, Hainan province, China, People’s Republic of China.. The November Date of year 2024 towards the Tiangong-China Space Station..
The world’s most powerful cargo spacecraft in service has further improved its carrying capacity!
From 8:00 to 11:00 Beijing time on November 13, 2024, at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan, China, the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and the Long March-7 Yao-9 carrier rocket ship-rocket combination were vertically transferred from the vertical assembly and test plant to the launch position. The mission ship-rocket completed the last few kilometers on the ground, waiting for launch this week.
“Tianzhou-8” is an improved version of the “Tianzhou” spacecraft. It is the third ship of the second batch of products after the mass production of the “Tianzhou” spacecraft. It is a fully sealed cargo spacecraft with a double-cabin tandem configuration, including a propulsion cabin and a cargo cabin.
The improved version of the Tianzhou spacecraft is 10.6 meters long, with a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters (cargo compartment), a wingspan of 14.9 meters when the solar wing is unfolded, a cargo compartment loading space of 22.5 cubic meters, a loading capacity of 6.7 tons, and a total cargo loading capacity of 7.4 tons including the propulsion compartment tank capacity. The dry mass of the spacecraft is 6.5 tons. The Tianzhou is the world’s most powerful cargo spacecraft in service. Compared with the Tianzhou-6 and Tianzhou-7 spacecrafts, the carrying space of the Tianzhou-8 has increased by more than 200 liters (0.2 cubic meters) and the carrying capacity by more than 100 kilograms (0.1 tons).
Tianzhou is a one-time cargo spacecraft. Even though it has the highest carrying coefficient (carrying efficiency) in the world, it still has a high unit transportation cost, just like other countries’ one-time cargo spacecraft. In order to continuously improve the efficiency of cargo replenishment, Tianzhou cargo spacecraft is constantly being improved and upgraded. By optimizing the space layout and reducing the weight of the spacecraft, Tianzhou has increased the carrying space and carrying weight, and can meet the material needs of the space station for a longer period of time through a single mission, further reducing the operating costs of the space station.
This mission is the second cargo supply mission of China’s manned space program in 2024 and the seventh cargo supply mission of China’s space station. It is planned to provide in-orbit support for the two manned flight missions of “Shenzhou 19” and “Shenzhou 20”.
Before the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft went up, the Tianzhou-7 spacecraft had already withdrawn from the rear port of the Tianhe core module of the Chinese space station, making way for the former’s dedicated docking port for the cargo spacecraft.
At the same time, the crew of the Shenzhou 19 stationed in the space station has completed manual remote control exercises and made full preparations for the ascent of the Tianzhou 8 spacecraft.
“Long March 7 Carrier Rocket successfully launches Tianzhou 8! The Shenzhou 19 crew, get ready to receive the “big gift package”
At 23:13 Beijing Time on November 15 2024, the Long March 7 carrier rocket carrying the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft ignited and took off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province China, People’s Republic of China. . About 10 minutes later, the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit. After that, the spacecraft’s solar panels were smoothly deployed, and the launch mission was a complete success. About 3 hours later, the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft will complete rendezvous and docking with the rear port of the Tianhe core module of the space station and transfer to the combined flight phase. Subsequently, the Shenzhou 19 Takionaut crew will enter the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft and carry out related work such as cargo transfer as planned. This launch is the 546th launch of the Long March series of carrier rockets….
天舟八号
[Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft completes rendezvous and docking with space station complex]
The latest news from the China Manned Spaceflight Office; Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft successfully completed state setting after entering orbit, and successfully docked with the rear port of the Tianhe core module of the space station at 02:32 Beijing time today. After the rendezvous and docking is completed, Tianzhou 8 will transfer to the complex flight phase. Subsequently, the Shenzhou 19 Takionaut crew will enter the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft and carry out related work such as cargo transfer as planned.
天舟八号 [Unpacking the package]
This morning, the Shenzhou 19 Takionaut crew opened the Tianzhou 8 hatch with the cooperation of the ground and began to “unpack the package” in space. At 8:26 Beijing Time, Takionaut Cai Xuzhe opened the Tianzhou 8 hatch and entered the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft. The Shenzhou 19 astronaut crew will continue to carry out related work such as cargo transfer as planned….
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