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The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), developed and built in Japan, is an unmanned cargo transfer spacecraft that delivers supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).
The HTV is launched from the Tanegashima Space Center aboard an H-IIB launch vehicle with up to 6,000kg of supplies. When the HTV approaches close to the ISS, the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), known as "Canadarm2," grapples the HTV and berth it to the ISS. After the supplies, such as food, clothes and a variety of experiment equipment, are unloaded, the HTV will then be loaded with waste materials, including used experiment equipment or used clothes. The HTV will then undock and separate from the ISS and reenter the atmosphere. While the HTV is berthed to the ISS, the ISS crew will be able to enter and remove the supplies from the HTV Pressurized Logistics Carrier.
In addition to Russia's cargo spacecraft, Progress, the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), developed and built by the European Space Agency (ESA), Cygnus Spacecraft developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, SpaceX, and Japan's HTV are currently utilized for delivering supplies to the ISS. Among these cargo freighters, the HTV can carry both pressurized and large unpressurized cargo. This is the unique special feature of the HTV.
The HTV "Technical Demonstration Vehicle" (initial flight vehicle) was successfully launched on September 11, 2009 (JST) from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. As of 2014, four HTVs, including its technical demonstration mission (HTV1) have successfully completed the missions.
Item | Specification |
---|---|
Length | Approx. 10.0m |
Diameter | Approx. 4.4m |
Mass excluding cargo | Approx. 10,500kg |
Cargo capacity (supplies and equipment) | Total:Maximum 6,000kg Pressurized Logistics Carrier (PLC)Maximum 4,100kg |
Total Mass | Maximum 16,500kg |
Reentry cargo capacity | Maximum 6,000kg |
Propellant | Fuel:MMH (Monomethylhydrazine) Oxidizer:MON3 (NTO containing 3wt% NO) |
Insertion orbit | Altitude: 350km-460km Inclination: 51.6 degrees |
Mission Duration | Solo flight:Normally 5 days Berthing:Maximum 45 days Stand-by (on orbit): Normally 7 days |
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