TOKYO – A Japanese rocket carrying an unmanned cargo transporter to the International Space Station (ISS) blasted off Saturday, said reports from Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAEA) has announced that the launch was a success and the cargo unit separated from the rocket as scheduled.
The H-2B rocket, originally scheduled to lift off on Thursday, was launched at 2:37Â pm (0537 GMT) at Tanegashima Space Center after a two-day delay due to adverse weather conditions.
According to the JAEA, the rocket carries the HTV2 transporter, which is expected to connect with the ISS on Friday.
Also included in the cargo are equipment for use in Japan’s Kibo laboratory module, food and drinking water for astronauts.
 HTV2 Mission Overview
| Item | Detail | |
|---|---|---|
| HTV Flight Number | HTV2 (KOUNOTORI 2) | |
| Launch Time | 2:37:57 p.m., January 22, 2011 (JST) | |
| Launch Site | Launch Pad2 (LP2), Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) | |
| Capture by the SSRMS (Scheduled Time) |
8:45 p.m., January 27, 2011 (JST) | |
| Berthing to the ISS (Scheduled Time) |
4:00 a.m., January 28, 2011 (JST) | |
| Altitude | Insertion Orbit: 200 km x 300 km (elliptical orbit) Rendezvous: Approx. 350 km |
|
| Inclination | 51.6 degrees | |
| Payload | HTV PLC | KOBAIRO Rack Multi-purpose Small Payload Rack (MSPR) Supplies for onboard use (six HRRs) |
| HTV ULC | Cargo Transport Container (CTC) Flex Hose Rotary Coupler (FHRC) |
|
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