Tianzhou-10 Cargo Spacecraft Docks with Tiangong Space Station
Summary: On May 11, 2026, the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with China's Tiangong space station complex approximately 6 hours after launch, delivering approximately 6.3 tonnes of supplies and 700 kg of propellant for the Shenzhou-23 and Shenzhou-24 crew teams.
Docking Overview
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft was launched at 08:14 Beijing Time (00:14 UTC) on May 11, 2026, aboard a Long March-7 Y11 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province. After approximately 10 minutes, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. Following about 6 hours of flight and orbital maneuvers, Tianzhou-10 successfully completed rendezvous and docking with the orbiting Tiangong space station complex at approximately 14:05 Beijing Time on the same day.
The docking was conducted using an autonomous fast rendezvous and docking mode, with the spacecraft attaching to the forward port of the space station complex. The delivered cargo will be transferred through the combination's passageways to various modules of the space station, providing support for the in-orbit work and daily life of the Shenzhou-23 and Shenzhou-24 crew teams.
Cargo Configuration
Tianzhou-10 carried approximately 6.3 tonnes of supplies to the space station, including more than 220 items across multiple systems: the astronaut system, space station system, cargo spacecraft system, and space application system. The mission also delivered 700 kg of propellant for orbital maintenance and attitude control of the space station complex.
Notably, Tianzhou-10 also carried one set of extravehicular spacesuits to support extravehicular activities (EVA) at the space station.
Mission Background
Tianzhou-10 is one of the world's largest cargo spacecraft in terms of transport capacity and orbital support capability, specifically designed to deliver supplies and manage waste disposal for China's Tiangong space station. This mission marks the 5th cargo supply mission in the Space Station's Application and Development Phase, and the second cargo supply mission of China's space station in 2026 (following Tianzhou-9's departure and reentry on May 6).
Tianzhou-9 undocked from the space station complex on May 6 and conducted a controlled reentry into Earth's atmosphere on May 7, freeing up the forward docking port for Tianzhou-10. The fact that Tianzhou-10 completed docking within 6 hours of launch further demonstrates the rapid rendezvous and docking capability of the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft series.