1 of 22
Japan's H-2B Rocket Launches HTV-3
Credit: JAXA
Japan's robotic HTV-3 cargo spaceship launches July 20, 2012 from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The spacecraft is carrying new supplies for the International Space Station.
2 of 22
Japan's H-2B Rocket Launches HTV-3
Credit: JAXA
Japan's robotic HTV-3 cargo spaceship launches July 20, 2012 from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The spacecraft is carrying new supplies for the International Space Station.
3 of 22
Japan's H-2B Rocket Launches HTV-3
Credit: JAXA
Japan's robotic HTV-3 cargo spaceship launches July 20, 2012 from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The spacecraft is carrying new supplies for the International Space Station.
4 of 22
Inside Japan's Huge Space Truck (Infographic)
Credit: Ross Toro, SPACE.com contributor
Japan's H-2 Transfer Vehicles are disposable cargo ships that carry supplies to the International Space Station.
5 of 22
Japan's H-2B Rocket Launches HTV-3
Credit: JAXA
Japan's robotic HTV-3 cargo spaceship launches July 20, 2012 from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The spacecraft is carrying new supplies for the International Space Station.
6 of 22
Japan's H-2B Rocket Launches HTV-3
Credit: JAXA
Japan's robotic HTV-3 cargo spaceship launches July 20, 2012 from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The spacecraft is carrying new supplies for the International Space Station.
7 of 22
Japan Moves HTV-3 to Launch Pad
Credit: JAXA
A Japanese H-2B rocket rolls out to the launch pad at Tanegashima Space Center for the July 20, 2012 launch of JAXA's H-2 Transfer Vehicle 3. The HTV-3 spacecraft is delivering tons of new supplies and equipment to the International Space Station.
8 of 22
Japan Moves HTV-3 to Launch Pad
Credit: JAXA
A Japanese H-2B rocket rolls out to the launch pad at Tanegashima Space Center for the July 20, 2012 launch of JAXA's H-2 Transfer Vehicle 3. The HTV-3 spacecraft is delivering tons of new supplies and equipment to the International Space Station.
9 of 22
Japan Moves HTV-3 to Launch Pad
Credit: JAXA
A Japanese H-2B rocket reaches the launch pad at Tanegashima Space Center for the July 20, 2012 launch of JAXA's H-2 Transfer Vehicle 3. The HTV-3 spacecraft is delivering tons of new supplies and equipment to the International Space Station.
10 of 22
Japanese H2-B rocket
Credit: NASA TV
The robotic HTV-3 cargo spacecraft sits poised on its H-2B rocket at the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.
11 of 22
Japanese Launch Site
Credit: NASA TV
The robotic HTV-3 cargo spacecraft sits poised on its H-2B rocket at the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.
12 of 22
H2-B Rocket Engine Fires
Credit: NASA TV
The rocket engine on the Japanese H2-B booster fires July 20, 2012 to launch the unmanned HTV-3 cargo spacecraft.
13 of 22
HTV-3 Launches
Credit: NASA TV
Japan's robotic HTV-3 cargo spaceship launches July 20, 2012 from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.
14 of 22
H2-B Liftoff
Credit: NASA TV
A Japanese H2-B rocket lifts off carrying the HTV-2 unmanned cargo spacecraft toward the International Space Station on July 20, 2012.
15 of 22
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 Kounotori 3 to the International Space Station.
16 of 22
Japan's H-2B Rocket Launches HTV-3
Credit: JAXA
Japan's robotic HTV-3 cargo spaceship launches July 20, 2012 from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The spacecraft is carrying new supplies for the International Space Station.
17 of 22
HTV-3 Launches
Credit: NASA TV
Japan's robotic HTV-3 cargo spaceship launches July 20, 2012 from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.
18 of 22
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.
19 of 22
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.
20 of 22
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.
21 of 22
HTV at the Space Station
Credit: JAXA.
An artist's interpretation of Japan's H-2 Transfer Vehicle arriving at the International Space Station.
22 of 22
Fiery Finale for Japan's HTV Craft
Credit: JAXA
Artist's concept of the HTV's re-entry.
