August 31, 2009 Updated
HTV moved to the VAB! Final launch preparation phase
On August 30, the encapsulated HTV Demonstration Flight was transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB.) It will be loaded onto the H-IIB Launch Vehicle to be ready for the launch on September 11. We published a promotion movie of the HTV/H-IIB mission. Please watch it before witnessing the actual launch!
- HTV/H-IIB Special Site
- For Future Space Transportation Mission -HTV/H-IIB Promotional Movie-
- HTV (H-II Transfer Vehicle)
August 24, 2009 Updated
HTV encapsulated
On August 21, the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Demonstration Flight was mated with the Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) at the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly Building #2.On the 23rd, the HTV on the PAF was encapsulated by the payload fairing, which covers the payload to protect it from air resistance, friction and the acoustic vibrations of launch. The fairing for the HTV is a 5S-H type and is about 5 meters in diameter and about 15 meters in length. It was developed for the HTV launch.
The encapsulated HTV Demonstration Flight will be transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and loaded onto the H-IIB Launch Vehicle Test Flight.
August 1, 2009 Updated
Astronaut Wakata returns home after becoming first Japanese on extendedstay at ISS
The Space Shuttle "Endeavour," which Astronaut Wakata was aboard, landed at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at 11:48 p.m. on July 31 (Japan Standard Time.) Astronaut Wakata successfully achieved all of his missions during his extended stay in space of 137 days, the longest mission ever for a Japanese at the International Space Station (ISS).His missions included the assembly of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo." We would be grateful for your further continued support of Astronaut Wakata, as well as to the Kibo operation and control team at the Tsukuba Space Center, who keeps watching the Kibo. (Images by NASA)