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>"Japan's First Space Cargo Ship Ready to Fly
By Tariq Malik
Managing Editor
posted: 05 September 2009
01:29 pm ET
Japan's first unmanned spacecraft to haul cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) is nearly ready for its maiden launch next week.
The new cargo ship is poised to launch toward the station on Sept. 10 at 1:01 p.m. EDT (1701 GMT) from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on a shakedown cruise. If all goes well, the inaugural spacecraft, called the H-2 Transfer Vehicle 1 (HTV-1), should arrive at the station on Sept. 17.
The spacecraft was built by JAXA, Japan's space agency, and will launch atop the country's brand new H-2B rocket. It will be early Sept. 11 Local Time at the Japanese launch site at the time of liftoff.
"JAXA is ready to carry out the important HTV-1 mission as a new contribution to the ISS program," said Masazumi Miyake, director of the JAXA office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, in a Wednesday briefing.
JAXA mission managers are expected to hold a series of final readiness reviews for HTV-1 and its rocket booster to make sure it's ready for launch day. "<
>"Japan's First Space Cargo Ship Ready to Fly
By Tariq Malik
Managing Editor
posted: 05 September 2009
01:29 pm ET
Japan's first unmanned spacecraft to haul cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) is nearly ready for its maiden launch next week.
The new cargo ship is poised to launch toward the station on Sept. 10 at 1:01 p.m. EDT (1701 GMT) from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on a shakedown cruise. If all goes well, the inaugural spacecraft, called the H-2 Transfer Vehicle 1 (HTV-1), should arrive at the station on Sept. 17.
The spacecraft was built by JAXA, Japan's space agency, and will launch atop the country's brand new H-2B rocket. It will be early Sept. 11 Local Time at the Japanese launch site at the time of liftoff.
"JAXA is ready to carry out the important HTV-1 mission as a new contribution to the ISS program," said Masazumi Miyake, director of the JAXA office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, in a Wednesday briefing.
JAXA mission managers are expected to hold a series of final readiness reviews for HTV-1 and its rocket booster to make sure it's ready for launch day. "<
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Re: HTV flight - A Go
Wed, September 9, 2009 - 7:11 AMwww.space.com/missionlaun...-status.html
>"Japan 'Go' for First Space Cargo Ship Launch
By Spaceflight Now Staff
posted: 08 September 2009
02:25 am ET
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2009
1000 GMT (6 a.m. EDT; 7 p.m. JST)
Thursday's launch of a Japanese cargo ship to the International Space Station passed an important milestone Saturday during a launch readiness review that cleared the spacecraft and rocket for flight.
The H-2 Transfer Vehicle is scheduled for launch at 1701 GMT (1:01 p.m. EDT) Thursday from the Tanegashima space center in southern Japan. Liftoff will be at 2:01 a.m. local time on Friday.
The 35,000-pound logistics carrier will be hauled into orbit by Japan's new H-2B rocket, an upsized version of the country's H-2A launcher that has been used for eight years to orbit satellites.
Senior leaders from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency met Friday and Saturday to review the flight and final launch preparations at Tanegashima. The managers adjourned Saturday and gave a "go" to continue with the planned launch, a JAXA spokesperson said.
The HTV was trucked from a processing facility to Tanegashima's large Vehicle Assembly Building on Aug. 30 for mating with the rocket. Technicians spent much of last week loading last-minute supplies into the ship's pressurized section, including fresh food and other items.
Next up at the island spaceport will be the 20-minute rollout of the 186-foot-tall rocket from the VAB to Launch Pad No. 2 at the Yoshinobu launch complex. That move is scheduled for around 0400 GMT Thursday, or in the early afternoon at Tanegashima.
Meanwhile, astronauts aboard the International Space Station have been preparing for the HTV's arrival, scheduled to occur on Sept. 17 if the spacecraft launches on time.
Nicole Stott, the newest member of the station's crew, will use the complex's robotic arm to reach out and grapple the HTV as it pulls within about 30 feet of the Kibo laboratory module.
The station arm was "walked off" and re-oriented on the Harmony module Sunday night to prepare for the HTV capture.
Stott will be joined by European astronaut Frank De Winne and Canada's Bob Thirsk for support during the approach, grapple and berthing sequence. Astronaut Mike Barratt would be called upon, along with Stott, to perform an emergency spacewalk if serious problems develop with the HTV.
The crew completed an in-orbit simulation last week as a dry run for the spacecraft's arrival.
Stay with Spaceflight Now for more updates, including a live webcast and a comprehensive preview of the HTV's first mission. "<
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Re: HTV flight
Thu, September 10, 2009 - 11:46 AM
