Japan’s last HTV cargo spacecraft leaves space station to a fiery ending

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Japan’s “white stork” has taken off from the International Space Station for the last time.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) The ninth H-II transfer vehicle, or HTV-9, is released from its temporary perch at the end of the robotic arm of the space station on Tuesday, August 18 at 1:36 p.m. EDT (5:36 p.m. GMT). The unequipped cargo vehicle, which JAXA has dubbed the “Kounotori,” or “white stork,” will spend another two days in orbit before flight controllers in Tsukuba, Japan, order a burnt-out engine that will send the spacecraft dive back into the earth’s atmosphere.

Loaded with around 7400 pounds. (3,400 kilograms) of used equipment and waste from the space station, the HTV will reach its fiery end, succumbing to the heat of re-entry and burning over the Pacific Ocean.

Related: Photos: Japan’s robotic space cargo fleet

The desorbit will mark the end of 11 years of HTV missions.

“Over the past 11 years, the H-II Kounotori transfer vehicle has delivered more than 40 tonnes of cargo, research, material and equipment to the International Space Station,” said Joel Montalbano, ISS program director from NASA, in a statement on NASA TV. departure. “I want to congratulate Japan on the HTV missions.”

First launched on September 10, 2009, atop the first Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-IIB rocket of the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan, the barrel-shaped HTV was the first Japanese spacecraft to service a space station and the first unequipped vehicle to dock on the U.S. segment of the International Space Station (ISS). The 33-foot (10-meter) long and 14-foot (4.4-meter) wide solar-powered spacecraft was also the first capsule to carry both pressurized and non-pressurized cargo.

JAXA-9’s H-II transfer vehicle (HTV-9), is pictured attached to the Harmony module on the International Space Station, eclipsing the moon behind it, June 4, 2020. (Image credit: NASA)

“A white stork carries the image of conveying an important thing (a baby, happiness and other joyful things); therefore, it precisely expresses the mission of the HTV to transport essential materials to the ISS,” wrote JAXA officials about the spaceship’s nickname in November. 2010.

After HTV-1, later Japanese spacecraft delivered supplies to the station in January 2011, July 2012, August 2013, August 2015, December 2016, September 2018 and September 2019. The HTV-9 was launched on May 20 (May 21, Japan time) and was attached to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony space station modulates five days later.

Related: International Space Station at 20: a photo tour

Like the eight vehicles that came before it, the HTV-9 spent its 85 days docked at the station being unloaded of its cargo and then repackaged with garbage. After the space shuttles retired in 2011, Japan’s HTV was the only spacecraft capable of delivering and removing refrigerator-sized payload racks. The HTV-9 carried NASA’s latest “Accelerate Processing Experiments to Space Station”, or EXPRESS rack, which provides power, storage, temperature control, data, and transportation for up to ‘to 10 research experiences each.

HTV-9 also delivered the latest set of six new lithium-ion batteries which were used to supplement the space station solar power system upgrade this summer. Older and less efficient nickel-hydrogen batteries, mounted on a pallet launched on HTV-8, are now thrown into the unpressurized compartment on board the HTV-9. (The exposed pallet that was launched on HTV-9 will be dropped from the station later.)

JAXA mission fixes for HTV-1 through HTV-9 flights to the International Space Station, between 2009 and 2020. (Image credit: JAXA / collectSPACE.com)

In total, the nine Kounotori delivered more than 80,150 books. (36,356 kg) of scientific equipment and supplies, including 58,513 pounds. (26,541 kg) of cargo under pressure and 21,636 lbs. (9,814 kg) of unpressurized cargo. The vehicles also disposed of nearly 48,000 pounds. (21.695 kg) of waste, including 35236 lb. (15,983 kg) of pressurized waste and 12,593 lb. (5,712 kg) of non-pressurized used material.

On Tuesday, NASA flight controllers in Houston remotely controlled the Canadarm2 robotic arm to detach the HTV-9 from the Harmony node and position it to release it. Next, NASA astronaut and Expedition 63 commander Chris Cassidy, assisted by Russian flight engineer Ivan Wagner, supervised the departure of the vehicle as it was released from the hold of the robotic arm and pulled its thrusters on board to separate from the orbiting laboratory.

“It has been a true honor for the members of Expedition 63… to welcome HTV, conduct operations there and now be part of its departure on the ninth-class spacecraft. Kudos to our colleagues and friends at JAXA, ”Cassidy said after the HTV reached a safe distance from the space station.

Moving away, the HTV-9 allowed for another experiment, completing the already successful demonstration of Wireless LAN (WLD). In a first, the HTV transmitted live images to the space station in real time. The technology could one day support autonomous moorings on future missions, including between vehicles operating around the Moon or Mars.

Artist’s impression of the HTV-X cargo ship planned by JAXA in Earth orbit. The HTV-X is under development to resupply the International Space Station and support NASA’s gateway to the moon. (Image credit: JAXA)

The HTV is the third type of visiting vehicle to retire after flying under the ISS program. After the NASA space shuttle landed after its last mission in 2011, the European Space Agency (ESA) Automated transfer vehicle (ATV) completed its fifth and final mission in 2015. The space station continues to be supplied by Russian Soyuz and Progress satellites, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus freighter and SpaceX’s Dragon capsules. The Boeing Starliner and Sierra Nevada Dream Chaser are expected to enter service in 2021.

JAXA plans to succeed the HTV “Kounotori” with a new more advanced spacecraft, called HTV-X. The new ship will have a greater payload capacity, be able to handle cargo requiring energy, and will be fitted with a hatch to allow for late additions just before launch.

Intended to fly for the first time at the station in 2022, the HTV-X is also being considered for flights to the moon, to deliver supplies to the planned lunar orbit gateway as part of JAXA’s proposed contributions to NASA’s Artemis program.

“The HTV is the last Japanese freighter in the series, but this final departure marks the beginning of a new chapter for our international partner, which is developing [the] next-generation cargo vehicle, HTV-X, “JAXA astronaut Norishige Kanai said from the HTV control room in Tsukuba, Japan.” We have improved the capabilities of the new vehicle [to] expand our activity in space, not only on the ISS, but beyond low earth orbit. We can’t wait to see HTV-X in the near future. Until then, farewell, HTV. “

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