China launched the Tianzhou-5 resupply mission at 0203 GMT on 12 November. The freighter was propelled into orbit by a Long March 7 (CZ-7) rocket lifting-off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site, Hainan Island. Once placed into orbit the freighter conducted a two hour automated approach to the Chinese Space Station (CSS) aka Tiangong. This was reportedly completed at 0410 GMT.
The Tianzhou-5 freighter reportedly carried approximately 6,500 kg of cargo, not including additional fuel for the CSS. Additionally, launched alongside the freighter is a smaller CubeSat-class satellite from the Macau University of Science and Technology, known as “Macau Student Science Satellite No.1”. This satellite will conduct Earth observation operations for the university as well as other scientific experiments. It is uncertain when this satellite will be deployed from the station.
Update on 30 November 2022: The previous Tianzhou freighter to the space station, Tianzhou-4, undocked at 0655 GMT on 9 November 2022. Tianzhou-4 made a controlled re-entry at 2321 GMT with surviving debris falling into the South Pacific on 14 November 2022. Just before its re-entry Tianzhou-4 released a small CubeSat called Zhixing-3A at was deployed into orbit from Tianzhou-4 at 1002 GMT on 13 November. The technology test satellite was built by the Beijing Smart Satellite Space Technology Co.
The Long March 7 lifts-off with the TIANZHOU-5 freighter. Courtesy of China National Space Administration (CNSA)/ China Central Television (CCTV)
David Todd contributed to this story.
