Monday, August 17, 2015

JAXA) has postponed the launch of its Transport Vehicle

Aug. 16, 2015
Bad Weather Again Delays Launch of Japanese Cargo Ship to Space Station
This artist's concept shows the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) H-II Transport Vehicle-5 separating from its H-IIB launch vehicle. Credits: JAXA
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has postponed the launch of its H-II Transport Vehicle (HTV)-5 to the International Space Station to 7:50 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 19. NASA Television will carry live coverage of the event beginning at 7 a.m.

JAXA is delaying the launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan due to an unfavorable weather forecast at the launch site for the next two days, which may delay the launch date further.

Loaded with more than 4.5 tons of supplies, including water, spare parts and experiment hardware for the six-person space station crew, the unpiloted cargo craft, named Kounotori, Japanese for “white stork,” will travel five days to reach the station.

Rendezvous and grapple of the HTV-5 now is scheduled for approximately 6:55 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24. NASA TV coverage will begin at 5:15 a.m. Installation coverage will now begin at 9:15 a.m. for installation at approximately 9:45 a.m.