China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft undocks from space station combination

This image captured at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 6, 2026 shows China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft undocking from the station combination. The Tianzhou-9 cargo craft, tasked with carrying supplies for China's space station, undocked from the station combination on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The cargo craft will re-enter the atmosphere in a controlled manner at an appropriate time, the CMSA said. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)

BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The Tianzhou-9 cargo craft, tasked with carrying supplies for China's space station, undocked from the station combination at 4:34 p.m. Wednesday (Beijing Time) and switched to independent flight, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The cargo craft will re-enter the atmosphere in a controlled manner at an appropriate time. During the process, a small amount of debris that survives the ablation will fall into the designated safe waters, the CMSA said.

Tianzhou-9 was launched on July 15, 2025 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, and then docked with the orbiting Tiangong space station. It carried supplies including astronaut consumables for in-orbit stay, propellant and application experiment equipment. ■

This image captured at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 6, 2026 shows China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft undocking from the station combination. The Tianzhou-9 cargo craft, tasked with carrying supplies for China's space station, undocked from the station combination on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The cargo craft will re-enter the atmosphere in a controlled manner at an appropriate time, the CMSA said. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)

This simulated image captured at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 6, 2026 shows China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft undocking from the station combination. The Tianzhou-9 cargo craft, tasked with carrying supplies for China's space station, undocked from the station combination on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The cargo craft will re-enter the atmosphere in a controlled manner at an appropriate time, the CMSA said. (Photo by Zhang Fan/Xinhua)