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The Japanese transfer vehicle H-II-7 (HTV-7), as seen on September 14, 2018, during preparations for its launch.
Credit: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) unexpectedly delayed a vital cargo launch to the International Space Station, just an hour before the rocket took off.
The agency has not yet provided a new launch date nor explanation of the delay. The mission had already been postponed from an initially scheduled takeoff on September 10 (September 11, local time) by a typhoon near the launch site of the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. After the delays, the agency has calculated a series of launch windows until the end of October.
The vehicle, an H-II transfer vehicle called HTV-7, carries essential supplies for the six astronauts currently living in the orbiting laboratory. The cargo includes six new batteries, which astronauts will install outside the Space Station during spacewalks scheduled for the end of the month. The spacecraft also carries many experimental supplies for the scientific research currently being conducted on the space station.
The launch attempt was scheduled for today at 16:59. EDT (2059 GMT, 5:59 am local time on September 15). JAXA announced the delay on Twitter about an hour before this time.
Once the freighter has finally taken off, it takes about two and a half days to reach the space station. The launch and docking will be broadcast online by NASA TV, with a schedule to be announced pending the new takeoff time.
Email Meghan Bartels at [email protected] or follow her @meghanbartels. follow us @ Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+ Original article on Space.com.
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