Tianzhou-9 cargo craft successfully docks with China space station(1/4)

A Long March-7 Y10 rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-9 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, July 15, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Luo Yunfei)

China launched the cargo craft in the early morning on Tuesday to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

After about 10 minutes, Tianzhou-9 separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. Its solar panels soon unfolded. The agency declared the launch a complete success.

Latest news from the agency said the cargo craft had successfully conducted the rendezvous and docking with the space station combination.

A Long March-7 Y10 rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-9 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, July 15, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Luo Yunfei)

A Long March-7 Y10 rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-9 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, July 15, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Luo Yunfei)

A Long March-7 Y10 rocket carrying cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-9 blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, July 15, 2025. (Photo: China News Service/Luo Yunfei)