Japan left Monday for the launch of the cargo at the station

The seventh Japan Freight Mission (HTV-7) to the International Space Station is in the final stages of preparation for its launch Monday at 19:32. EDT. Mission controllers monitor the weather at the launch site of the Tanegashima Space Center as the Expedition 56 crew prepares for its early arrival on Friday.

HTV-7, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), provides a wide range of scientific equipment to support new research aboard the orbital laboratory. The new facilities will allow astronauts to observe high-temperature physical processes, protein crystal growth and genetic alterations, as well as other important spatial phenomena.

HTV-7, also known as Kounotori, also carries six new lithium-ion batteries that robotic controllers will remove and install on the trellis structure of port 4 of the station. Astronauts Alexander Gerst, Drew Feustel and Ricky Arnold will perform battery maintenance on two spacewalks scheduled for September 20-26.

Feustel will lead the effort to capture Kounotori when he orders the Canadarm2's robotic arm to reach out and grab it at 7:40 am Friday. on a computer.

The six crew members gathered at the end of the day for further eye checks. Sextuets from the United States, Russia, and Germany used an ultrasound machine, with the help of doctors in the field, and eyed each other.