Tianzhou 8

Tianzhou 8 was the eighth mission of the Tianzhou-class uncrewed cargo spacecraft, and the seventh resupply mission to the Tiangong space station. Like previous Tianzhou missions, the spacecraft was launched from the Wenchang [Satellite Launch Center] in Hainan, China on a Long [March 7] rocket.

Mission history

Tianzhou 8 was launched on November 15, 2024, successfully docking with Tiangong after a three-hour flight.
Like all Tianzhou craft since Tianzhou 6, Tianzhou 8 stayed docked to Tiangong for around 9 months before being deorbited on July 8, 2025 to make room for the next supply mission.

Payload

Tianzhou 8 delivered 6,000 kg of supplies and materials to Tiangong, 102 kg more mass than its predecessor Tianzhou 7. The cargo includes various bricks made from lunar [regolith simulant], which will be deployed on external racks outside Tiangong for up to three years before being returned to the earth for analysis.