spacetoday.net: Japan launches cargo spacecraft to ISS

Posted: Sun, Aug 4, 2013, 10:18 AM ET (1418 GMT)
H-2B launch of HTV-4 spacecraft (JAXA)

An H-2 rocket successfully launched the fourth in a series of Japanese cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station early Sunday. The H-2B rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 3:48 pm EDT Saturday (1948 GMT Saturday, 4:48 am local time Sunday) and released the HTV-4 spacecraft into orbit 15 minutes later. The cargo spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at and be berthed to the ISS on August 9. HTV-4 carries more than 2,400 kilograms of supplies and equipment in the spacecraft's pressurized section, as well as more than 800 kilograms of unpressurized cargo. Included on the HTV-4 mission are a small Japanese talking robot dubbed Kirobo, a new "task board" of components for a robotic spacecraft servicing experiment on the ISS, and several cubesats that will later be released from the ISS.