A critical resupply mission to the International Space Station got off to a good start with the launch of Japan’s HTV-6 robotic cargo spacecraft today.
The bus-sized H-II Transfer Vehicle rose into space atop an H-IIB rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan at 10:26 p.m. local time (5:26 a.m. PT). A little more than 15 minutes later, HTV-6 successfully separated from the rocket.
It’ll take four days for the 12-ton cargo ship to catch up with the space station in orbit. For the final rendezvous, crew members will use the station’s robotic arm to pull the craft in for berthing at the Harmony module’s port.
The HTV craft, also known as Kounotori (“White Stork”), is carrying more than 4.5 tons of supplies and equipment for the station’s six spacefliers, including lithium-ion batteries that will replace the nickel-hydrogen batteries currently used to store power generated by the solar arrays. The new batteries will be installed during a series of spacewalks next month.
The successful delivery of this shipment is likely to be particularly welcome, coming so soon after a Russian Progress cargo shipment was lost in a botched launch. SpaceX Dragon shipments have also been grounded due to a launch-pad mishap in September, although SpaceX plans to return to flight in January.
NASA says the space station is well-stocked, and the crew isn’t facing any shortages despite the loss of the Progress.
Coverage of the HTV-6’s rendezvous with the space station is due to begin on NASA TV at 1:30 a.m. PT Tuesday. Once it’s hooked up, the craft will spend more than five weeks connected to the station, during which it’ll be unloaded and repacked with trash. Then it will be set loose to burn up during atmospheric re-entry.
