TIANZHOU 1

TIANZHOU 1 is no longer on orbit

NORAD ID: 42684

Int'l Code: 2017-021A

Launch date: April 20, 2017
Source: People's Republic of China (PRC)
Launch site: Wenchang Satellite Launch Center (WSC)
Decay date: 2017-09-22

TIANZHOU-1 is a Chinese mission on a mission is to conduct the on-orbit refueling of the Tiangong-2 space station. During this mission, the new vehicle will make three rendezvous attempts with Tiangong-2. Combined operations with the Tiangong-2 / Tianzhou-1 orbital complex will take place over two months. At the end of this period, Tianzhou-1 will separate from Tiangong-2 and will initiate an autonomous orbital mission for three months to carry out experiments and tests during that period of time. At the end of the mission, Tianzhou-1 will make an automatic destructive reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.