Japanese spacecraft successfully assembled with ISS

Yesterday morning (September 18), Japan's first unmanned cargo ship HTV successfully assembled with the International Space Station (ISS).

Last week, the H-2B rocket launched from Tanegashima Space Center has taken HTV into orbit. When the ship was about 10m away from the ISS Station, astronauts on the ISS used a robotic arm to pull the ship to the station.

H-2B boosters bring HTV into orbit.(Photo: Internet)

The HTV transport ship brought to ISS about 4.5 tons of cargo, including basic supplies for astronauts and observation equipment for Japan's Kibo laboratory on the station.

Successful assembly of HTV vessels with ISS has brought hope to Japan in developing manned spacecraft as well as its role in transporting goods (along with Russia and Europe). for ISS in the future, after US shuttles stopped operating in 2010.

The HTV ship is 10 meters long, has a radius of 4.4 meters, and can carry large quantities of goods (up to 10.5 tons) that other cargo ships cannot. After shipping, HTV will receive waste from ISS and return to Earth. It will be burned almost entirely when flying into the atmosphere.

Japan is expected to launch 7 cargo spacecraft using HTV once produced by this country by 2015.