Unmanned space carrier "Kotonotori" last launch at 2:31 am 2:37 on May 21.
The final launch of Unit 9, the last of Japan's unmanned space carrier "Kotonotori" that carries supplies to the International Space Station, took place at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 2:31 am on the 21st. "Kotonotori" will be cut off after about 15 minutes.
The H2B rocket carrying No. 9 of the Japanese unmanned space transport ship "Konotori" was launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 2:31 am on the 21st.
At around 2:46 am, about 15 minutes after the launch, the stork will be separated at an altitude of 287 km.
The Kounotori is a cylindrical spacecraft with a total length of 10 meters and a diameter of 4.4 meters, developed by JAXA = Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to carry materials to the International Space Station orbiting the earth at an altitude of 400 km. Did.
The maximum capacity for transporting goods to the International Space Station is 6 tons, but the operation will be completed at Unit 9 this time.
The Kounotori started operating 11 years ago in 2009, and has successfully launched all 8 aircraft so far, and if the final launch of the 9th aircraft was successful, it will take about 50 tons in total. We will deliver the supplies.
JAXA will develop the "HTV-X" as a successor to the "Kotonotori" and launch it within the next fiscal year to carry supplies to the International Space Station, and a space station that orbits the moon where construction is planned in the future. We are also planning to bring supplies to the “gateway”.
After being separated from the rocket, Kounotori No. 9 will be raised to an altitude of around 400 km and will arrive at the International Space Station on the 25th of this month.