CASC / CMSA · Operational · cn · Cargo Spacecraft
Tianzhou
China's automated Tiangong resupply vehicle; largest cargo capacity among currently operational ISS-class freighters.
Verified 2026-06-17 · First flight 2017-04-20
Subsystems
propulsion↗
4 main engines at 490 N each; 32 attitude-control thrusters (25 N, 120 N, and 150 N classes).
avionics↗
Autonomous docking GNC with APAS-type interface; propulsion cabin avionics for guidance/navigation/control.
power↗
Deployable solar arrays with batteries; 2–3 solar panel segments depending on version.
comms↗
APAS-type hatch with electrical connections and fluid-transfer pipelines for propellant transfer to Tiangong.
Specs & Metrics
- Cargo Upmass ↑ better
- 7,400 kg
- Improved version; basic design 6,500 kg; includes up to 3,500 kg propellant transfer
- Maximum pressurized + unpressurized cargo delivered to station orbit (upmass), in kg.
- Pressurized Volume ↑ better
- 18.1 m³
- Pressurized cargo volume; effective loading space listed as up to 21 m³ in some configs
- Total internal pressurized volume of the spacecraft in cubic metres.