Tianzhou 8

Tianzhou 8

A Tianzhou 3D model
Mission type	Tiangong space station resupply
Operator	CNSA
COSPAR ID	2024-211A
SATCAT no.	61983
Mission duration	72 days, 2 hours, 4 minutes (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Tianzhou-8
Spacecraft type	Tianzhou
Manufacturer	China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Launch mass	14,000 kg (31,000 lb)
Payload mass	6,000 kg (13,000 lb)
Dimensions	10.6 m × 3.35 m (34.8 ft × 11.0 ft)
Expedition
Space station	Tiangong space station
Start of mission
Launch date	15 November 2024, 15:13 (15 November 2024, 15:13) UTC[1]
Rocket	Long March 7
Launch site	Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, LC-201
Contractor	China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Inclination	41.5°
Docking with Tiangong space station
Docking port	Tianhe aft
Docking date	15 November 2024, 18:32 UTC[2]
Time docked	71 days, 22 hours, 45 minutes (in progress)
Mission patch Shenzhou program ← Shenzhou 19 Shenzhou 20 → Tianzhou program ← Tianzhou 7 Tianzhou 9 →

Tianzhou 8 (Chinese: 天舟八号) is the eighth mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft, and the seventh resupply mission to the Tiangong space station. Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft was launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, China on a Long March 7 rocket.

Tianzhou 8 was launched on November 15, 2024, successfully docking with Tiangong after a three-hour flight.^[3]

Like all Tianzhou craft since Tianzhou 6, Tianzhou 8 is expected to stay docked to Tiangong for around 9 months before deorbiting to make room for the next supply mission.^[4]

Tianzhou 8 delivered 6,000 kg of supplies and materials to Tiangong, 102 kg more mass than its predecessor Tianzhou 7.^[5] The cargo includes various bricks made from lunar regolith simulant, which will be deployed on external racks outside Tiangong for up to three years before being returned to the earth for analysis.^[5][6]