The last of Japan’s first generation ships of the first generation has gone out in a sheen of glory.
The ninth and final H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), a robot International Space Station ship for new supply, also known as Kounotori (Japanese for “white stork”), burned in the earth’s atmosphere as planned today (Aug. 20).
HTV-9 left the station on Tuesday afternoon (August 18), packed with about 7,400 lbs. (3,400 kilograms) used equipment and other waste. The cargo flew around our planet for a spell before mission commanders fought a deorbit fire, and HTV-9 after a fierce death across the Pacific aired early this morning.
“We did it!” officials with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said in a Twitter update. “Just about every HTV ‘KOUNOTORI’ mission completed perfectly.”
Related: Japanese robotic space cargo fleet in photos
The solar-powered HTV, which is 33 feet (10 meters) long and 14 feet (4.4 meters) wide, began servicing the space station in 2009. The spacecraft carried cargo on nine missions, all of which were successful. were.
“In the past 11 years, the H-II Transfer Vehicle Kounotori has delivered more than 40 tons of cargo, research, hardware and equipment to the International Space Station,” said Joel Montalbano, NASA’s space station programmer, during NASA’s broadcast of HTV – 9 his departure on Tuesday. “I want to congratulate Japan on its HTV missions.”
We did it! Just about every HTV “KOUNOTORI” mission completed perfectly. Thank you @Space_station, @NASA, @esa, @csa_asc, @roscosmos, all partners and YES! Please wait and see if we try again with HTV-X. # GOHTV9 #JAXA #ARIGATO pic.twitter.com/wuStYl67cJAugust 20, 2020
The death of HTV-9 will not end the Japanese charge to the orbiting lab. De Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is developing a successor cargo ship, known as the HTV-X, which is scheduled to fly to the station for the first time in 2022.
The HTV-X will be able to carry more cargo than the old HTV, and the car can also go much further. The HTV-X was able to transport supplies to the planned space station of NASA’s lunar orbit, known as Gate, Have JAXA officials be.
“Wait and see if we try HTV-X again,” JAXA said.
HTV’s departure from the orbital scene reduces the number of operational robotic reimbursement work to three: Russia’s Progress auto, SpaceX’s Dragon capsule (the uncared freight version) and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spaceship.
That fleet should soon get a boost, and not just from the HTV-X. Dream Chaser, a spacecraft developed by Colorado-based company Sierra Nevada Corp., is expected to begin flying robotic cargo missions to the orbiting lab in 2021.
Mike Wall is the author of “Out There” (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
