Last updated:November 9, 2016
HTV6 Mission Timeline
| Flight Day |
Major mission events |
| FD1 |
- Launch, Orbit Insertion
- Post-insertion auto sequence
- HTV subsystem activations
- Attitude control
- Anomaly check
- Establishment of communication with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)
- Initiation of communication with the HTV Mission Control Room (HTV MCR) at the Tsukuba Space Center
- Initiation of Rendezvous Maneuver
|
| FD1 to FD6 |
- Rendezvous Maneuver with the ISS
|
| FD6 |
- Proximity Operations, Final Approach
- Capture by the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS)
- Berthing to the ISS
- Berthing to the Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) on the Harmony's Nadir Port
- Vestibule outfitting (connection of power and communication line)
- Activation of HTV power supply from ISS
- Switching of the communications line (Radio wave to fixed line)
|
| - |
- Removal of the Exposed Pallet (EP) from the HTV's Unpressurized Logistics Carrier (ULC)
|
| - |
- Crew ingress to the Pressurized Logistics Carrier (PLC)
- Removal of the Controller Panel Assemblies (CPAs) of the CBM
- Hatch open
- Activation of the Inter-Module Ventilation (IMV)
|
| - |
- Cargo Transfer from the PLC to the ISS
|
| - |
- Transfer of the ISS battery ORUs made of Japanese lithium-ion battery cells※ out of the EF using SSRMS
Nickel hydride batteries currently used on the ISS will be replaced by the lithium-ion batteries delivered by KOUNOTORI6.
|
| - |
- Removal and transfer of nickel metal-hydride batteries using the JEMRMS to the EP for disposal
|
| - |
- Reinstallation of the EP back into the HTV's ULC
|
| - |
- Cargo transfer / Trash loading
|
A day before
departure
from the ISS |
- Preparation for the HTV Unberthing Operations
- Installation of CPA of the CBM
- IMV de-activation
- Hatch closure
- Switching of the communications line (Radio wave to fixed line)
|
| Unberthing Day |
- KOUNOTORI6 unberthing
- Deactivation of HTV power supply from ISS
- Disconnection of power and communication line
- KOUNOTORI6 grapple by the SSRMS
- CBM bolts release
- SSRMS moves KOUNOTORI6 to the release position
- Activation of the Guidance Navigation Control (GNC), activation of HTV propulsion system
- SSRMS releases KOUNOTORI6
- KOUNOTORI6 begins separation maneuvers
|
After unberthing
1-7 days |
- HTV6 will perform Kounotori Integrated Tether Experiment (KITE)
- Travel to an orbit more than 20km below the ISS
- Deployment of the KITE endmass. Extension of the tether
- Amplitude reduction of the tether
- Tether cutoff after the experiment
|
| Reentry |
- De-orbit Maneuver
- Fiery Reentry
|
* In-flight schedule of the HTV6 mission is subject to change depending on the ISS's operational timeline.
* Photos used in the table were taken during the previous HTV missions. Some Computer Graphics (CG) images are included.
