Japan launches first cargo rocket to supply ISS

Japan launched its first unmanned cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station on Friday, aiming for a share of space transport after the retirement of the US space shuttle fleet in 2010.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the HTV transportation vehicle atop an H-2B rocket, which is also on its first flight, as scheduled just after 2:00 am (2230 IST Thursday), agency images showed.

The vehicle separated from the rocket, as planned, about 15 minutes later.

The rocket blasted off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on a southern Japanese island, with the HTV carrying 4.5 tonnes of supplies including food and daily necessities for the six ISS crew, as well as materials for experiments, such as seeds for growing plants in space.


The 10-metre long cylindrical vehicle, which cost 217 million dollars, will deliver the supplies, load waste materials and return to Earth, burning up as it reenters the atmosphere.