Research and Development of the Tianzhou Cargo Spacecraft

After more than 7 years of development, the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft (TZ), a space station transfer spacecraft, was successfully launched on 2017 April 20. The TZ is robotic that designed to support China operation by transporting pressurized cargo, unpressurized large propellant, and other supplies. vehicle equipped with crew specifications necessary for astronauts unload cargo. can be utilized variety commercial, engineering, scientific, or proposed activities once its primary mission complete. China's first dedicated transport but safety designs are also particular TZ. Newly developed technologies were applied enable high-efficiency shipment. Its development carried out under policy adopting flight-proven enhance reliability mission. success flight test TZ-1 marked perfect end Space Laboratory laid foundation smooth implementation manned project. As novel has broken through key such as transportation, propellant replenishment, fully autonomous rapid rendezvous docking. characteristics high efficiency, multitasks, strong self-control ability. paper describes phylogeny, main technical schemes, technological achievements