New Japanese H2B rocket launches successfully

he new Japanese H-IIB rocket launched into space successfully at 2:01 am on September 11th (JST), carrying with it the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) for re-supplying the ISS. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reported successful detachment of the H-IIB and HTV 15 minutes and 10 seconds after liftoff, and the HTV entered a successful orbit above the earth.

The launch took place smoothly and as scheduled from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The rocket followed a launch azimuth of 108.5 degrees. The first two solid rocket boosters detached at 2 minutes and 05 seconds, and the second two at 2 minutes and 8 seconds. The first stage separation followed at 5 minutes 56 seconds, and the second stage at 15 minutes and 10 seconds.


The unmanned HTV, which is carrying vital supplies, equipment, and experiments to the International Space Station, will be performing a test flight over the next week. It is scheduled to finally connect with the ISS on the 18th. Once all cargo has been offloaded, the HTV will be disposed of by sending back into the earth’s atmosphere to burn up.

The launch video of the H-IIB on September 11th, 2009 (JST)