Tag: HTV
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STS-133: ISS Gears Up for Discovery’s Arrival – Soyuz Flyaround Update
With the countdown clocks now ticking down for the launch of STS-133 at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) have been hard at work this past week, reconfiguring the station for the arrival of Discovery this Saturday. The reconfiguration period is set to continue this week, as the…
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Canada’s “Dextre” robotic hand performs first ever operational tasks
Canada’s Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator (SPDM), also known as “Dextre” or the “Canada Hand”, is, for the first time since its launch in March 2008, being used for operational purposes aboard the International Space Station (ISS) this week. The operations are in support of Japan’s H-II Transfer Vehicle-2 (HTV-2) mission. SPDM overview: The SPDM is…
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ISS crew successfully capture HTV-2 for berthing to Station
After less than a week in space, Japan’s HTV-2 spacecraft was successfully grappled by the ISS crew via the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System), ahead of berthing to Node-2 Nadir – which was completed at 0951 EST. Over the coming days, the ISS crew will remove external payloads from HTV-2 before moving the spacecraft to a…
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HTV-2 Resupply Craft launches towards Space Station
Representing the third spaceflight of 2011, JAXA’s HTV-2 vehicle, atop the H-IIB rocket, launched at 1537 JST (0137 CST) from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. With its second flight, the HTV will deliver thousands of pounds of internal and external cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and serve as a means for…
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STS-133 launch slip impacts HTV-2 and ATV-2 missions
Following the further delay of the STS-133/ULF-5 mission into late February, International Space Station (ISS) Program Managers are readjusting the mission plans for Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle-2 (ATV-2) “Johannes Kepler” and Japan’s H-II Transfer Vehicle-2 (HTV-2) “Kounotori”. Both vehicles will be present at the ISS during the STS-133 mission, which should provide for some stunning…
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ISS Reviews Upcoming Software Changes for Visiting Vehicles
As the International Space Station prepares to enter a new era of governmental (ATV, HTV, and Progress) and commercial (SpaceX’s Dragon and Orbital’s Cygnus) unmanned resupply services, the ISS Program (ISSP) is pressing ahead with three software upgrades for the Space Station – which are aimed at accommodating multiple visiting vehicles at a single time, improving…
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NASA managers realigning ISS manifest following STS-133 slip to February
Following the decision to move Discovery’s STS-133 launch date target to No Earlier Than (NET) February 3, NASA managers have begun realigning the International Space Station (ISS) manifest. An April 1 placeholder has been selected for Endeavour’s STS-134 mission, while Japan’s HTV resupply vehicle is also involved in supporting the manifest changes. STS-133 Delay: With…
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Soyuz TMA-14 lands safely following departure from busy ISS
International Space Station Expedition 20 Commander Gennady Padalka, Flight Engineer Michael Barratt and spaceflight participant Guy Laliberte have landed safely in their Soyuz TMA-14 on the steppes of Kazakhstan Sunday morning. The trio left the ISS just a few hours prior to landing, leaving a Station that is now busily working through its Expedition 21…
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HTV arrives at the ISS after extensive on orbit testing
JAXA – the Japanese Space Agency – has successfully debuted their HTV (H-II Transfer Vehicle) on its maiden flight to the International Space Station (ISS), via a series of rendezvous demonstrations and a successful capture via the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). The flight of the HTV has been classed as near-flawless during its…
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Japan launches HTV cargo vehicle on debut ISS mission
Japan space agency JAXA has successfully launched the HTV (H-II Transfer Vehicle) on its debut flight to the International Space Station (ISS). The HTV launched on schedule from Tanegashima Space Center on an H-IIB vehicle – into an initial 200 km x 300 km orbit – at 02:01 local time on Friday (13:01 on Thursday Eastern time). Launch:…