H-II Transfer Vehicle KOUNOTORI (HTV)

Congratulatory message after HTV9 capture

Onboard astronaut Christopher J. Cassidy captured KOUNOTORI9 with the station's robotic arm (Space Station Remote Manipulator System: SSRMS) at 9:13 p.m., May 25.

After capture the HTV9, we have got the messages from NASA astronaut Christopher J. Cassidy, Leslie Ringo, NASA MCC-H CAPCOM and JAXA astronaut Dr. Kanai as follows.

Message from Christopher J. Cassidy, NASA astronaut

NASA Astronaut Christopher J. Cassidy (Credit: NASA)

It was an honor for Expedition 63 to be part of the final HTV mission. The vehicle that has contributed so greatly to the International Space Station Program. Congratulations to our friends and colleagues in Tsukuba.

Message from NASA MCC-H CAPCOM

NASA MCC-H CAPCOM, Leslie Ringo (Credit: NASA)

Chris and Ivan, congratulations for an excellent job capturing KOUNOTORI. From the first arrival of JAXA's HTV cargo ship on September 17th, 2009, this invaluable resource from our Japanese partner have delivered vital supplies, experiments and new batteries to extend the life of the Station. Today's arrival of the final in the series of this genre of HTV vehicles marks a transition to a new and more capable vehicle, the HTV-X which will soon make its debut. We congratulate our Japanese colleagues for a magnificent chapter in Space Station history. And wish them all the best in the next phase of re-supplying the International Space Station and the years ahead.

Chris and Ivan, please stand-by one, as I hand over the comm to Nemo.

Message from Dr. Kanai, JAXA astronaut

JAXA Astronaut Dr. Kanai (Credit: JAXA)

Chris and Ivan, thank you, Спасибо (Spasibo) and Arigato for the great work. I'd like to echo with Leslie's words and relay with a message from Tsukuba in Japanese.

Chris and Ivan, thank you for the capture. All the members of the KOUNOTORI team are very happy to see the safety arrival of KOUNOTORI9 to the ISS today. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the astronauts, Houston mission control and international partners who have supported KOUNOTORI's operations for more than 10 years since its first flight. KOUNOTORI9 transports system equipment such as batteries, laboratory equipment from partner countries and fresh food. On its final approach to the ISS, the KOUNOTORI9 succeeded in transmitting the ISS image data taken from the KOUNOTORI9 by the WLD mission in preparation for future automatic docking. As for KOUNOTORI, although the HTV9 will be its last mission, we are developing a next-generation spacecraft with even more advanced capabilities, the HTV-X, so please look forward to it. I hope that our bond will continue to grow even deeper in the future. Thank you.

Thank you again for your great work, Chris and Ivan.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST. UTC + 9 hours)