 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Japan's cargo ship docks at International Space Station
Tokyo (AFP) Sept 18, 2009 Japan's first cargo spacecraft arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday after astronauts aboard the station grabbed and docked it using a robotic arm. The docking came a week after the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the unmanned HTV transportation vehicle atop an H-2B rocket. The HTV is Japan's first freighter spacecraft aiming for a share of space transport after the retirement of the US space shuttle fleet next year. "I'm so relieved because I was feeling the pressure and responsibility," Koji Yamanaka, the flight director in charge of the cargo mission, told reporters at Japan's Tsukuba space centre. It was the first time that astronauts operate a Canadian robotic arm at the ISS to dock a spacecraft at the station. The HTV carried 4.5 tonnes of supplies, including food and daily necessities for the six ISS crew, as well as materials for experiments, such as seeds for growing plants in space. The 10-metre (33-foot) long cylindrical vehicle, which cost 20 billion yen (217 million dollars), will soon unload the supplies. It will later take waste materials and return to Earth, burning up as it re-enters the atmosphere. Japan has spent 68 billion yen developing the vehicle, which could be modified in future to carry humans. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Station at NASA Station and More at Roscosmos S.P. Korolev RSC Energia Watch NASA TV via Space.TV Space Station News at Space-Travel.Com
Ship Tracking From The ISSOslo, Norway (SPX) Sep 14, 2009 The Norwegian Automatic Identification System (NORAIS) is an advancement on AIS, the short range coastal traffic system used by ships and Vessel Traffic Services around the world. AIS is required to be fitted on every seagoing vessel of 300 gross tons or more. It is both intended to help ship crews to avoid collision with other vessels and allow maritime authorities to track and monitor ... read more |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook