A cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-8, has reached China’s Tiangong space station, delivering vital supplies, scientific experiments, and equipment essential for crewed missions. Launched aboard a Long March 7 rocket from Wenchang, the spacecraft successfully docked with Tiangong's aft port.
The launch occurred on Nov. 15, at 10:13 a.m. Eastern (1513 UTC), with docking completed approximately three hours later. Tianzhou-8 carries an impressive payload of around 6,000 kilograms, predominantly supporting the Shenzhou-19 and future Shenzhou-20 missions.
A significant portion of the payload, 458 kilograms, consists of scientific materials. This includes experiment payloads, units, and samples, alongside spare parts and consumables. One notable experiment involves lunar regolith simulant bricks, deployed externally on Tiangong for three years to study the effects of space’s harsh environment. This research directly informs China's plans for its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).
Biological studies related to long-term space exploration are also included in the mission. Samples will be frozen and returned to Earth for analysis on gene expression changes. The experiment will help researchers understand the effects of space travel on animal behavior, reproduction, and brain function.
Tianzhou-8 boasts an increased payload capacity of 102 kilograms compared to its predecessors, Tianzhou-6 and Tianzhou-7. These earlier missions already carried 20 percent more than the first five Tianzhou spacecraft.
China intends to operate the three-module Tiangong for at least a decade. Expansion plans include six modules and the addition of the Xuntian space telescope. To enhance resupply capabilities, CMSEO has awarded contracts for developing low-cost cargo concepts, providing backup to the current Tianzhou/Long March 7 system. These concepts include the Qingzhou spacecraft and the Haolong reusable shuttle.
The Tianzhou-8 mission marks China's 56th orbital launch of 2024, following the launches of Haiyang-4 (01) and 15 other satellites. While CASC aimed for around 100 launches this year, both CASC and commercial providers appear to be behind schedule. The debut of the Long March 12 is anticipated soon, and the Chang’e-6 mission’s successful lunar sample return is another key accomplishment.