Japan”s space agency achieved a significant milestone on Sunday with the successful launch of its new H3 rocket. This mission involved the HTV-X1, an unmanned cargo spacecraft designed to transport supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
The launch took place at the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan, where the HTV-X1 was lifted into the sky atop the No. 7 H3 rocket. According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. If all progresses as planned, it is anticipated that the craft will reach the ISS within a few days.
Currently aboard the ISS, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui is scheduled to capture the HTV-X1 using a robotic arm early Thursday morning.
The HTV-X cargo spacecraft is an advancement over JAXA”s previous H-II Transfer Vehicle, known as Kounotori, or “stork” in Japanese. The Kounotori completed nine missions to the ISS between 2009 and 2020. The new HTV-X model boasts a larger payload capacity and the ability to supply power while in transit, which is essential for transporting sensitive materials such as lab samples requiring low-temperature storage.
Designed for extended missions, the HTV-X can remain attached to the ISS for up to six months to deliver supplies and collect waste. Following its departure, the spacecraft will conduct additional technical missions while in orbit for three months.
The H3 rocket is a successor to the H-IIA rocket, which has served Japan”s space program for many years and completed its final flight in June. The H3 is intended to be a more cost-effective option in the competitive global space industry. Japan considers the establishment of a reliable and commercially viable space transport capability crucial for its national security and overall space ambitions. Following a failed inaugural flight in 2023, the H3 has successfully completed six consecutive launches.
