Japan Succeeds HTV Launch

The second unit of Japanese heavy lift H2B, launched from Tanegashima Space Center, Kagoshima, on 14:37 local time on January 22. Its payload, Kounotori 2 (Stork), also known as HTV, unmanned space replenish vessel for International Space Station (ISS), was separated normally about 15 minutes after the launch at altitude of 300 kilometers and put into earth orbit. This successful launch is a sequel to September 2009.

HTV was developed by JAXSA, Japanese Space Agency, as Japanese commitment to provide a means of supply materials to ISS. After five days from the launch, HTV will approach to ISS by increasing its altitude and finally will dock to ISS.

HTV, a cylindrical structure with 10 meter length and 4.4 meter diameter, weighs about 16 tons including its payload of experimental devices for Kibo testbed at ISS as well as daily consumables for astronauts including clothing and hygiene supplies such as shampoo. Its total cost of production is about 15 billion yen (about 183 million dollars).

The lift, H2B, is derivative of the original H2A rocket by incorporating two units of H2A engines for larger lift thrust. Unit cost of its launch is also 15 billion yen.  Counting together with its original H2A, H2 series has scored 14 successes consecutively and 19 succeful launches in total. The launch was


JAXSA website ; http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html