Tianzhou-10 Cargo Spacecraft Launches Successfully
Summary: China's Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft successfully launched on May 11, 2026 at 08:14 UTC (16:14 Beijing Time) aboard a Long March 7 Y11 rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. The spacecraft separated from the rocket approximately 10 minutes after liftoff and entered its designated orbit with solar panels deployed.
Mission Overview
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), Tianzhou-10 separated from the Long March 7 Y11 rocket approximately 10 minutes after liftoff on May 11, 2026 at 08:14 UTC (16:14 Beijing Time), successfully entering its planned orbit. The spacecraft's solar arrays deployed smoothly, marking a complete success for the launch mission.
Tianzhou-10 is the tenth cargo spacecraft in China's Tianzhou series and the fifth cargo resupply mission under the space station's application and development phase. The spacecraft is carrying approximately 6.3 tonnes of supplies and 700 kg of propellant for the Shenzhou-23 and Shenzhou-24 crews currently aboard the Tiangong space station. This launch represents a routine resupply mission as China's manned space program transitions into its application phase.
Mission Background
The Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft and Long March 7 Y11 rocket combination was vertically transferred to the launch site on May 8, 2026. Following comprehensive pre-launch functionality checks and joint tests, the rocket was loaded with propellant on the morning of May 11, targeting the precise launch window.
Tianzhou-9 had departed the space station combination on May 6 and conducted a controlled re-entry into the atmosphere on May 7, freeing up a docking port for Tianzhou-10.
The Tianzhou series of cargo spacecraft is currently the world's most capable cargo transport vehicle in terms of cargo capacity and in-orbit support capabilities, exclusively serving China's space station resupply needs.