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Japan launches Konotori unmanned cargo spacecraft to ISS

Japan is planning to launch another five cargo spacecraft until 2015

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS Archive

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS Archive

TOKYO, August 4 (Itar-Tass) - Japan has launched an H-2B carrier rocket with the Konotori unmanned cargo spacecraft onboard from the southern Tanegashima space launch site towards the International Space Station (ISS), the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reports.

The lift-off took place at 04:50 local time (23:50 Moscow time on August 3). Konotori successfully separated from the carrier rocket and entered the orbit fifteen minutes after the launch. The spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS on August 10.

The Konotori will deliver food and clothes to the ISS crew as well as scientific equipment, including for the Japanese section Kibo.

This is the fourth Konotori launch. The first was successfully launched towards the ISS in September 2010. Japan is planning to launch another five cargo spacecraft until 2015. The spacecraft is 10 meters long and has 4.4 meters in diameter. It is capable of taking six tons of cargo, including large-sized, to the station during one mission.

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