Updates JAXA's HTV-2 "Kounotori 2"

[Orbinaut Pete]

NASASpaceflight: "LIVE: HTV-2 Resupply Craft Ready for Journey to Space Station".

 

[Carmen A]

Would you know of any place we can watch the launch footage?

 

[Arrowstar]

NASA TV seems to be working (though only in IE, FF is erroring out).

 

[orb]

Links to direct streams for NASA TV (to be used with media players):

• Low broadband: 150 kbit/s
• Low broadband: 150 kbit/s (alternate)
• Mid broadband: 300 kbit/s
• High broadband: 500 kbit/s
• Full speed: 1200 kbit/s

 

[Turbinator]

The relative motion between HTV and the ISS was less than 1mm/second, that is mind-blowing.
Are there any articles, or technical reading on how they did this?








.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

HTV-2 is on-orbit! An awesome display of competency and professionalism from JAXA! :speakcool:

NanoRacks' three commercial payloads for U.S. National Lab now in orbit on HTV-2. Really smooth mission so far.....

HD launch video:​

 

[N_Molson]

Spaceflight Now :

Japan dispatches delivery mission to space station

Japan successfully launched a robotic spaceship Saturday full of supplies to stock the International Space Station with scientific gear, spare parts and provisions for the lab's six-person crew. Launch of the H-2B rocket occurred as scheduled at 0537 GMT (12:37 a.m. EST).


Btw, nice week for spaceflight !! :thumbup:

 

[orb]

JAXA Press Release:

Launch Result of H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 2
with KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2) Onboard​

January 22, 2011 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.​

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.2 (H-IIB F2) with the KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2, a cargo transfer vehicle to the International Space Station) onboard at 2:37:57 p.m. on January 22 (Sat.,) 2011 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 15 minutes and 13 seconds after liftoff, the separation of the KOUNOTORI2 was confirmed.
We would like to express our profound appreciation for the cooperation and support of all related personnel and organizations that helped contribute to the successful launch of the H-IIB F2.
At the time of the launch, the weather was clear, a wind speed was 8.3 meters/second from the north-west and the temperature was 10.6 degrees Celsius.

--------------------------------------------------
H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 2 (H-IIB F2)
Launch Sequence (Quick Review)

[table="head"]

Event​

|

Actual value​

(Quick review)*1​

|

Scheduled value*2​

(Predicted value based on​

actual measurement data)​

1. Liftoff|0 second|0 second

2. Solid rocket booster (SRB-A) pair burnout *3|1 min. 52 seconds|1 min. 57 sec.

3. Solid rocket booster (SRB-A) 1st pair jettison *4|2 min. 6 sec.|2 min. 7 sec.

4. Solid rocket booster (SRB-A) 2nd Pair jettison *4|2 min. 9 sec.|2 min. 10 sec.

5. Payload fairing jettison|3 min. 45 sec.|3 min. 40 sec.

6. Main engine cutoff (MECO)|5 min. 50 sec.|5 min. 46 sec.

7. 1st and 2nd stages separation|5 min. 58 sec.|5 min. 54 sec.

8. Second stage engine ignition (SELI)|6 min. 9sec.|6 min. 1 sec.

9. Second stage engine cutoff (SECO)|14 min. 23 sec.|14 min. 15 sec.

10. HTV separation|15 min. 13 sec|15 min. 5 sec.[/table]

(*1) The values are based on quick report results without detailed data evaluation.
(*2) The values are updated ones based on actual measurement data such as thrust characteristics which are unique for the H-IIB F2 engines. Therefore, they are slightly different from the values in the Launch Plan
(*3) The definition of SRBA burnout is when the combustion chamber presser becomes 2% against the largest combustion pressure.
(*4) The definition of SRBA jettison is to cut the thrust struts.
________________________________________

JAXA Press Release:

H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 2
Second Stage Controlled Re-entry Test​

January 22, 2011 (JST)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.​

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) would like to announce that we have conducted the second stage controlled re-entry test for the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.2 by re-igniting the second stage engine for the second time as scheduled after separating its payload, the KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2, a cargo transporter to the International Space Station.)
________________________________________

JAXA: KOUNOTORI2/H-IIB Launch Veicle No.2 Special Site > Mission photo, Movie


Launch of KOUNOTORI2/H-IIB F2 Digest:

こうのとり2号機/H-IIBロケット2号機打ち上げ／Launch of KOUNOTORI2/H-IIB F2

​

H-IIB on the ML is moving from VAB to LP2:

[table="head"]{colsp=2}

Click on the images to view larger versions​

​

|

​

{colsp=2}[/table]​

H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 2 launched:

[table="head;width=100"]{colsp=3}

Click on the images to view larger versions​

{colsp=2}|

|{colsp=2}

|____________________|[/table]​

________________________________________

JAXA: HTV-2 Mission News:

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)​

KOUNOTORI2 Initiates Communications with Tsukuba (HTV MCR) (January 22, 2011)
The KOUNOTORI2 has successfully established communications with the NASA's TDRS, and initiated communications with the HTV Mission Control Room (HTV MCR) at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC). The KOUNOTORI2 also established two-axis attitude.

KOUNOTORI2 Establishes Three-Axis Attitude (January 22, 2011)
The KOUNOTORI2 has successfully established three-axis attitude at 3:36 p.m. January 22. KOUNOTORI's system self-checks are ongoing in preparation for its first phase adjusting maneuver (Phase Maneuver1: PM1) scheduled at 10:08 p.m. January 22.

KOUNOTORI2 Completes the First Phase Maneuver (PM1) (January 22, 2011)
The KOUNOTORI2 completed the first Phase Maneuver (PM1) at 10:13 p.m., January 22. Next HTV2 mission status update will be posted on Monday morning, January 24, 2011.

Discovery News: JAXA's HTV-2 Launches High School Experiment.

 

[Donamy]

It looks pretty good in Orbiter too !

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

It looks pretty good in Orbiter too !

YouTube - H2Blaunch NEW

Don, are you going to release EP payloads (FHRC & CTC) for HTV-2?

-----
EDIT:

I just saw the SFA video on your YouTube channel - I'd love to have a go of that, too!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

According to the official Dextre SPDM Twitter account:

• EP extraction from the ULC, handoff to the JEM RMS and installation onto the JEF will be on Feb. 1st.
• FHRC & CTC-4 removal from the EP and installation onto the SPDM will occur from Feb. 2nd - 4th.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 23/01/2011.

HTV-2 Flight Day 1 Summary:
HTV-2 lifted off on time yesterday (22/01) at 5:37:57 AM GMT. Ascent and the upper stage burn were nominal. Separation from the HII-B upper stage occurred at 5:53:11 AM. The HTV successfully performed three burns, per the plan:

• PM-1 (Phase Manoeuvre-1) began 22/01 at 1:08:09 PM GMT and had a dV of 34.1 m/s (performed using Main Engines).
• M-1 began 22/01 at 2:41:02 PM GMT and had a dV of 2.9 m/s (performed using Main Engines).
• PM-1' began 22/01 at 3:26:05 PM GMT and had a dV of 6.1 m/s (performed using Main Engines).

The burns raised the HTV semi-major axis by approximately 74 km and set up the initial phasing for the rendezvous. HTV is now in a 315 x 320 km orbit. As of 22/01 at 4:00 PM GMT, HTV was 20,600 km ahead of and 30 to 35 km below ISS, and phasing away at 338 km/rev. The post-burn trajectory has been screened for debris and is currently clear of conjunctions. RCS and Main Engines thruster testing and leak checks were performed on both strings; all systems are nominal. GPS navigation was checked out and is performing nominally.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

KOUNOTORI2 Continues Smooth Flight (January 24, 2011).

Following the completion of the first phase maneuver (PM1) at 10:13 p.m., January 22, KOUNOTORI2 has reached the planned orbit to perform initial height adjustment maneuvers at 0:36 a.m., January 23. KOUNOTORI2 has been continuing a smooth flight. The next HTV2 mission status update will be posted on Tuesday afternoon, January 25, 2011.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 24/01/2011.

HTV-2 Flight Day 2 Summary:
HTV-2 successfully performed one burn on FD-2, per the plan:

• 
  MD-1 began 23/01 at 5:56:32 PM GMT and had a delta-V of 0.78 m/s (performed using RCS Jets).

The burn decreased the HTV semi-major axis by approximately 1.3 km to adjust the phasing for the rendezvous. HTV is now in a 319 x 313 km orbit. As of 1/24/1:30am, HTV was approximately 13,150 km behind and 33 to 41 km below ISS, and phasing toward ISS at 350 km/rev. The post-burn trajectory has been screened for debris and is currently clear of conjunctions.

 

[orb]

JAXA:
KOUNOTORI2 Continues Nominal Rendezvous Flight

Last Updated: January 25, 2011​

KOUNOTORI2 maintains nominal orbital rendezvous flight. KOUNOTORI2 is now in an elliptical orbit at an altitude of 320km (apogee) x 312km (perigee). As of 11:00 a.m., January 25, KOUNOTORI2 is flying approximately 9,000km behind the ISS, shortening the distance to the ISS by approximately 230km per hour.

KOUNOTORI2 is slated to perform the first Height Adjustment Maneuver (HAM1) at 6:25 a.m., January 26, and two more height adjustment maneuvers on January 27, which will bring the KOUNOTORI2 to a point 5 km behind the ISS (Approach Initiation: AI). At the AI point, the KOUNOTORI2 will adjust timing to move to the final approach point below the ISS.

Capture by the station’s robotic arm (Space Station Remote Manipulator System: SSRMS) is expected at 8:45 p.m. January 27. Berthing operations is expected to begin after 11:00 p.m. January 27, 2011.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 25/01/2011.

CDR Scott Kelly & FE-6 Cady Coleman undertook a training session using the ROBoT (Robotics On Board Trainer) simulator for running HTV EP (Exposed Pallet) transfer runs and simulating a malfunction case.

HTV-2 Flight Day-3 Summary:
Yesterday (24/01) at 7:41:06 PM GMT, HTV successfully performed a nominal MD-2 burn with a retrograde delta-V of 0.37 m/s (using RCS thrusters). This was a minor phasing adjustment. The next scheduled burn was PCM-1 on 25/01 at 4:14:53 PM GMT. As of 24/01 at 10:00 PM GMT, HTV is approximately 9100 km behind and 39 km below ISS.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

JAXA: "KOUNOTORI2 Completes First Height Adjustment Maneuver".

KOUNOTORI2 performed the first Height Adjustment Maneuver (HAM1) at 6:26 a.m. January 26.
Next height adjustment maneuver is scheduled to begin at 11:17 a.m. January 27, 2011.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 26/01/2011.

HTV-2 Flight Day-3 Summary:
Yesterday, 25/01, HTV successfully performed four nominal burns, per the plan:

• PCM-1 began at 4:23:02 PM GMT and had a delta-V of 0.45 m/s (performed using RCS thrusters).
• HAM-1 began at 9:25:18 PM GMT and had a delta-V of 3.75 m/s (performed using Main Engines).
• M-2 began at 10:56:18 PM GMT and had a delta-V of 3.01 m/s (performed using Main Engines).
• PM-2 began at 11:41:41 PM GMT and had a delta-V of 0.56 m/s (performed using RCS thrusters).

This morning at 2:00 AM GMT, HTV was approximately 3,400 km behind and 26 km below ISS.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

HTV-2 grapple & berthing times in GMT:

Grapple: 11:44 AM GMT.
Berthing: Between 2:00 and 3:00 PM GMT.

 

[tblaxland]

The HTV is within 89 m of the ISS, according to Spaceflightnow. It's a bit hard to track progress currently as the main NASA TV channel is airing an interview and the ISS channel is rather dodgy and keeps dropping out...

EDIT: Now at 30 m and holding. Expected to hold for 20 min.