"Tianzhou 9 undocked from the Tiangong space station at 4:34 pm Beijing Time on Wednesday, beginning its final solo flight."
Undocking and Independent Flight
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), Tianzhou 9 undocked from the Tiangong space station at 4:34 pm Beijing Time on Wednesday. Following separation, the spacecraft entered a solo-flight mode.
Controlled Re-entry
The CMSA reported that Tianzhou 9 re-entered the atmosphere in a controlled manner at 7:49 am Beijing Time on Thursday. During the re-entry process, guided by ground controllers, the majority of the spacecraft burned up. A small amount of debris fell into designated safe waters.
Mission Background and Launch
Tianzhou 9 was launched on July 15, 2025, from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan. It was the 17th spacecraft and the eighth cargo craft to dock with the Tiangong space station.
Cargo Delivered
The cargo craft delivered supplies to the station, including propellants, astronaut consumables, and science payloads. The vessel carried hundreds of packages with a combined weight of nearly 6.5 metric tons. Items included science apparatus, application experiment equipment, and two new spacewalk suits.
Spacecraft Specifications
Tianzhou cargo craft have a designed service life of more than one year. Each spacecraft consists of a cargo cabin and a propulsion section and measures 10.6 meters in length and 3.35 meters in width.