1 of 24
Releasing Japanese Cargo Ship Kounotori2
Credit: NASA
The Canadarm2 robotic arm attached to the International Space Station prepares to release the Japanese cargo ship Kounotori2 ("White Crane") on March 28, 2011. It fell into the Earth's atmosphere, and burned up. The ISS's robot, Dextre, is visible at upper right.
2 of 24
Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV2) Falls Back to Earth
Credit: NASA
The unpiloted Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV2), filled with trash and unneeded items departs from the International Space Station, March 28, 2011.
3 of 24
Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Nears the ISS
Credit: NASA
Backdropped by a scattering of clouds over part of Earth, the unpiloted Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) approaches the International Space Station, Sep. 17, 2009.
4 of 24
H-II B Rocket Third Unit
Credit: JAXA
The H-II B rocket third unit core body will be part of the rocket that launches Japan's Kounotori3 ATV to the International Space Station. Scheduled launch date is July 21, 2012.
5 of 24
Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Closeup at ISS
Credit: NASA
NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk and European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne, all Expedition 20 flight engineers, used the International Space Station's robotic arm to grab the cargo craft and attach it to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony node. The attachment was completed on Sept. 17, 2009.
6 of 24
H-II B Rocket Third Unit
Credit: JAXA
The H-II B rocket third unit core body will be part of the rocket that launches Japan's Kounotori3 ATV to the International Space Station. Scheduled launch date is July 21, 2012.
7 of 24
Japan's HTV-1 Space Cargo Ship
Credit: NASA
Backdropped by Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, the first unpiloted Japanese H-2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV) approaches the International Space Station on Sept. 17, 2009.
8 of 24
Paper Origami Cranes in Kounotori2 Cargo Vehicle
Credit: NASA
In honor of those affected by the Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake in Japan, paper cranes (origami craft) were placed in the Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-2). Photo taken March 27, 2011.
9 of 24
Bidding Farewell to Kounotori2
Credit: ESA/NASA
The three-astronaut crew of the International Space Station's Expedition 27 mission pack three origami cranes on the Japanese cargo ship Kounotori2 (HTV-2) before releasing the spacecraft on Monday, March 28, 2011 to end its mission by burning up in Earth's atmosphere.
10 of 24
Discovery Docked at Space Station with Japan's HTV-2
Credit: NASA TV
NASA's space shuttle Discovery is shown docked to the International Space Station shortly after arriving on Feb. 26, 2011. The gold spacecraft at the bottom of this view is Japan's HTV-2 spacecraft.
11 of 24
Japanese Kounotori2 HTV-2 Cargo Vehicle
Credit: NASA
The Japanese Kounotori 2 H-2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV-2) was attached to the International Space Station's Harmony module using the station's robotic arm.
12 of 24
Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV2) Grappled at the ISS
Credit: NASA
The International Space Station's Canadarm2 grapples the unpiloted Japanese Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV2) as it approaches the station, Jan. 27, 2011.
13 of 24
Canadarm2 Reaching for Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV2)
Credit: NASA
The Japanese Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV2) nears the International Space Station on January 27, 2011, carrying over four tons of food and supplies to the space station. The station's Canadarm2 reaches out to attach the HTV2 to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony node.
14 of 24
Japan HTV-2 Launch
Credit: JAXA
Japan's Kounotori 2 unmanned cargo spacecraft launches toward the International Space Station Jan. 22, 2010.
15 of 24
Kounotori2 Cargo Ship Readied for Launch
Credit: JAXA
Japan's second robotic HTV cargo ship, the Kounotori 2, is prepared for its Jan. 22, 2011 launch from the country's Tanegashima Space Center by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Here, the craft's unpresurrized cargo section is shown.
16 of 24
Astronaut Stott Inside H-II Transfer Vehicle
Credit: NASA
NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, Expedition 20/21 flight engineer, moves a stowage container in the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) docked to the Harmony node of the International Space Station, October 4, 2009.
17 of 24
Space Station Crew Welcomes Japan's First Cargo Ship
Credit: NASA TV
The station’s robotic arm attaches the unpiloted Japanese H-2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV) to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony node after its inaugural arrival on Sept. 17, 2009.
18 of 24
Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) Approaches the ISS
Credit: NASA
Backdropped by a blue and white part of Earth and the blackness of space, the unpiloted Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) approaches the International Space Station, Sep. 17, 2009.
19 of 24
Japan's First Unmanned Cargo Ship Launch
The Japanese H-2 Transfer Vehicle lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Sept. 10, 2009 EDT (Sept. 11, 2009 Local Time) on its maiden flight to the International Space Station.
20 of 24
Japan Launches Space Cargo Ship on Maiden Flight
Credit: NASA TV/JAXA
The Japanese H-2 Transfer Vehicle lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Sept. 10, 2009 EDT (Sept. 11, 2009 Local Time) on its maiden flight to the International Space Station.
21 of 24
Japan to Launch New Space Freighter Today
Credit: JAXA.
Japan's first H-2 Transfer Vehicle and its H-2B rocket rollout out to Launch Pad-2 at the Tanegashima Space Center on Sept. 10, 2009 Local Time. It was Sept. 9 EDT at the time of rollout.
22 of 24
A Fiery Ending
Credit: JAXA
Artist's concept of the HTV's re-entry.
23 of 24
Japan's First Space Cargo Ship Ready to Fly
Credit: JAXA.
An artist's interpretation of Japan's H-2 Transfer Vehicle arriving at the International Space Station.
24 of 24
Japan's Space Hopes Riding on New Spaceship's Debut
Credit: JAXA.
The payload fairing of Japan's new H-2B rocket separates from the new HTV cargo ship in this artist's interpretation.
