Japan to launch HTV-5 cargo ship to space station today

JAXA

Tokyo: Japan is all set to launch a robotic cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday after a three-day delay.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)will roll out its H-IIB rocket this afternoon at the Tanegashima Space Center, according to US space agency NASA.

JAXA is scheduled to launch the “Kounotori” HTV-5 cargo craft at 7:50 a.m. EDT (11:50 a.m. UTC) Wednesday for a five day trip to the space station.

If all goes well as planned, the HTV-5 will arrive at the space station on Monday, August 24, after a five-day flight, delivering more than 4.5 tons of research and supplies, including water, spare parts and experiment hardware.

Meanwhile, the six-member Expedition 44 crew participated in a wide array of science today as Japan gears up for the launch of its fifth resupply mission to the ISS.

The HTV-5 cargo ship was originally planned to launch on Sunday, August 16, however, bad weather has forced JAXA to delay the launch.