Back HTV AN Товарен кораб H-II Bulgarian H-II Transfer Vehicle Catalan H-II Transfer Vehicle Czech H-2 Transfer Vehicle German Vehículo de transferencia H-II Spanish H-II Transfer Vehicle Estonian H-II Transfer Vehicle Finnish H-II Transfer Vehicle French H-II Transfer Vehicle Galician
 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-1) approaching the ISS | |
| Country of origin | Japan |
|---|---|
| Operator | JAXA |
| Applications | ISS resupply |
| Specifications | |
| Spacecraft type | Uncrewed cargo vehicle |
| Launch mass | 16,500 kg (36,400 lb)[1] |
| Dry mass | 10,500 kg (23,100 lb)[2] |
| Volume | Pressurized: 14 m3 (490 cu ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | ~9.8 m (32 ft) (including thrusters) |
| Diameter | 4.4 m (14 ft)[2] |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to ISS | |
| Mass | 6,000–6,200 kg (13,200–13,700 lb)[1][3] |
| Production | |
| Status | Retired |
| Built | 9 |
| Launched | 9 |
| Maiden launch | 10 September 2009 (HTV-1) |
| Last launch | 20 May 2020 (Kounotori 9) |
| Related spacecraft | |
| Derivatives | HTV-X |
The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), also called Kounotori (こうのとり, Kōnotori, "oriental stork" or "white stork"), is an expendable Japanese automated cargo spacecraft designed for International Space Station (ISS) resupply missions, particularly the Kibō Japanese Experiment Module (JEM).
Development of the spacecraft began in the early 1990s and the HTV's first mission, HTV-1, was launched on 10 September 2009 on an H-IIB launch vehicle.[4] The name Kounotori was chosen because "a white stork carries an image of conveying an important thing (a baby, happiness, and other joyful things), therefore, it precisely expresses the HTV's mission to transport essential materials to the ISS".[5]
The HTV is crucial for ISS resupply, especially after the retirement of the Space Shuttle, as it's the only vehicle capable of transporting large International Standard Payload Racks (ISPR) and disposing of old ones within the ISS's US Orbital Segment.
The final HTV mission, Kounotori 9, was launched on 20 May 2020. JAXA is currently developing its successor, the HTV-X, which is expected to make its maiden flight in early 2025.
- ^ a b "Overview of the "KOUNOTORI"". JAXA. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
jaxa2007was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ 「こうのとり」（HTV）5号機の搭載物変更について (PDF). 31 July 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ "NASA Sets Briefing, TV Coverage of Japan's First Cargo Spacecraft". NASA. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ ""KOUNOTORI" Chosen as Nickname of the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)". JAXA. 11 November 2010. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
