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A Japanese supply ship exploded Tuesday to the International Space Station, two weeks after stopping the first countdown for a shot on the launch pad.
Japanese authorities traced the fire to static electricity and the oxygen booster, and then corrected the problem.
The shipment of 4 tons is expected to arrive at the space station on Saturday. Spacewalking astronauts will install the six new lithium-ion batteries later this year, replacing the old-fashioned batteries. The freighter is named Kounotori, Japanese for white stork.
The Japan Space Agency is one of the organizations that makes periodic deliveries of stations. Russia sends supplies, just like SpaceX and Northrop Grumman on behalf of NASA.
Russia plans to launch three astronauts Wednesday in the space station, the first inhabitant of the United Arab Emirates heading to orbit.
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