China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLong March 5B101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
Tianhe
Launched
April 29, 2021
Image: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Summary
Tianhe launched on a China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 5B from 101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China on April 29, 2021. It was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 314th launch, 10th this year and humanity's 6,073rd orbital launch attempt. It was the 2nd Long March 5B flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Tianhe, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 178 × 389 km orbit inclined 41.5°. 4 objects from this launch are catalogued, 3 of them payloads.
- Watch
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Human Exploration · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 2nd Long March 5B flight · 1st this yearChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 314th launch10th this yearhumanity's 6,073rd orbital launch attempt36th orbital launch attempt this year
Webcast
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Tianhe · NORAD 48274 · 2021-035 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 4 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 2021-035A
- Epoch
- 2021-04-29 09:11:14 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.99286975 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0158679
- Inclination
- 41.4746°
- Ascending node
- 222.2547°
- Arg. of perigee
- 169.9021°
- Mean anomaly
- 275.4202°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 4
- B*
- 0
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
4 catalogued: 3 payloads, 1 rocket stage; 2 still in orbit
- Tianhe · NORAD 48274 · in orbit
- Naxing-4A · NORAD 62300 · re-entered April 10, 2025
- Naxing-4B · NORAD 63523 · in orbit
CZ-5B Y2 Stage 1 · re-entered May 9, 2021
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
Tianhe (which translates as "Heavenly Harmony") is the core module and backbone of the Chinese space station, designed to provide the main living quarters and control centre for the station crew.
Pad
101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
7th launch from 101, 1st this year · 12th from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
18 launches from this pad · 75 from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China
156 days after the previous launch from this pad
All launches from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of ChinaOpen in maps
Updates
Questions
When did Tianhe launch?
Tianhe launched on April 29, 2021. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch Tianhe?
Coverage: Long March 5B Tianhe; China launches 'Tianhe,' core module of space station; Live: Special coverage on China's first space station mission. Watch the replay
What rocket launched Tianhe?
Long March 5B, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Long March 5B spec sheet
Where did Tianhe launch from?
101, Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China.
What orbit did Tianhe reach?
Tianhe, one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 178 × 389 km orbit inclined 41.5°.
How many satellites did Tianhe launch?
3 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is Tianhe part of?
Tiangong space station. About Tiangong space station