# Tianzhou 1

> Tianzhou 1 is a unmaned cargo spacecraft created by China.

**Wikidata**: [Q18208012](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18208012)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tianzhou_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tianzhou-1

## Summary
Tianzhou 1 is an unmanned cargo spacecraft created by China as part of the Tiangong program. It was launched on April 20, 2017, using a Long March 7 rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center.

## Key Facts
- Launch date: April 20, 2017
- Launch vehicle: Long March 7
- Launch location: Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
- Part of: Tiangong program
- COSPAR ID: 2017-021A
- Satellite Catalog Number: 42684
- Instance of: Tianzhou (Chinese cargo spacecraft class)
- Followed by: Tianzhou 2

## FAQs
### Q: What is Tianzhou 1?
A: Tianzhou 1 is an unmanned cargo spacecraft created by China. It was launched on April 20, 2017, as part of China's Tiangong space program.

### Q: When and where was Tianzhou 1 launched?
A: Tianzhou 1 was launched on April 20, 2017, from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in China using a Long March 7 rocket.

### Q: What was the purpose of Tianzhou 1?
A: Tianzhou 1 was a cargo spacecraft designed to supply China's space station. As part of the Tiangong program, it played a crucial role in developing China's capabilities in resupplying orbital facilities.

### Q: What came after Tianzhou 1 in the program?
A: Tianzhou 1 was followed by Tianzhou 2, which is also an unmanned cargo spacecraft created by China as part of the same program.

## Why It Matters
Tianzhou 1 represents a significant achievement in China's space exploration program, marking a major milestone in the nation's ability to independently maintain and resupply space stations. As the first cargo spacecraft of the Tianzhou series, it validated China's capabilities in automated docking with orbital facilities and demonstrated the country's growing presence in space logistics. This successful mission laid the foundation for subsequent cargo missions and contributed to China's long-term goal of establishing a permanent space station presence.

## Notable For
- Being the first cargo spacecraft of the Tianzhou series
- Demonstrating China's capabilities in automated spacecraft docking
- Launching with the Long March 7 rocket, a new Chinese launch vehicle
- Part of China's Tiangong program to develop space station capabilities
- Having a COSPAR ID of 2017-021A

## Body
### Overview
Tianzhou 1 is an unmanned cargo spacecraft created by China as part of the Tiangong space program. It was launched on April 20, 2017, and represents China's first dedicated cargo spacecraft for space station resupply missions.

### Technical Specifications
- Class: Tianzhou (Chinese cargo spacecraft)
- COSPAR ID: 2017-021A
- Satellite Catalog Number: 42684
- Launch date: April 20, 2017
- Launch vehicle: Long March 7
- Launch location: Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
- Part of program: Tiangong

### Program Context
Tianzhou 1 is part of China's Tiangong program, which aims to develop and operate Chinese space stations. It belongs to the Tianzhou class of spacecraft, which are specifically designed as cargo vessels for space station operations. The spacecraft was succeeded by Tianzhou 2, continuing China's development of space resupply capabilities.

### International Recognition
The spacecraft is recognized by various international databases:
- Wikidata entity with ID Q42684
- Freebase ID: /m/011v5v4p
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "42684"]

### Documentation and References
Tianzhou 1 is documented across multiple languages including English, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, and Polish. The spacecraft has 16 sitelinks and is referenced in academic and space databases through its catalog number 42684.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report