Updates JAXA's HTV-2 "Kounotori 2"

[IronRain]

From ESA twitter:

Mission Control Room at the Tsukuba Space Centre (TKSC) Resumes Kibo and KOUNOTORI Operations http://goo.gl/fb/FwJzD

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 23/03/2011.

FE-5 Paolo Nespoli & FE-6 Cady Coleman continued their HTV-2 (H-II Transfer Vehicle-2) cargo operations, now focusing mostly on final trash packing. [Sayonara time for HTV-2: Release is planned for Monday 28/03 at 9:45 AM GMT (Tsukuba/Japan: 29/03 at 12:45 AM), followed by HTV-2 thruster activation at 4:45:30 PM GMT and re-entry on 30/03 at ~4:09 AM GMT.]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 25/03/2011.

An additional voluntary activity for the crew on their discretionary task list is the "Cranes for Japan" activity from the typically Japanese world of Origami (paper folding). [The activity involves the making of one or more paper cranes (Orizuru), a special symbol of Hope and Good Luck, to be flown in HTV-2 (H-II Transfer Vehicle-2) "Kounotori 2" before hatch closure on Sunday. With its unberthing on Monday and subsequent burn-up in the atmosphere on Tuesday night as a "falling star", Orizuru is intended to encourage all suffering people in the disaster area of Japan.]

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Japan's HTV cargo craft to leave space station Monday:

{...}

Astronauts Cady Coleman and Paolo Nespoli plan to remove the resupply ship from the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module at about 1545 GMT (11:45 a.m. EDT) with the station's Canadian robotic arm.

The astronauts will maneuver the cargo craft about 30 feet below the space station and release the arm's grasp on the vehicle before a retreat command is issued to guide it away from the complex.

{...}

Two separation engine burns will guide the HTV safely away from the space station after its release, setting the stage for a de-orbit burn around 0237 GMT Wednesday (10:37 p.m. EST Tuesday).

{...}

JAXA:

KOUNOTORI2 leaving ISS on the 29th! Live broadcast scheduled

The KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2, a cargo transporter to the International Space Station) will depart from the ISS with used material loaded on March 29 (Japan Standard Time,) and will be slated for re-entry to the atmosphere on the 30th (JST.) JAXA will broadcast a live Internet report of the KOUNOTORI departure from the ISS from 0:00 a.m. on the 29th (JST,) then its re-entry to the atmosphere from 11:30 a.m. on the 30th (JST.) Please watch the events through the Internet!

• KOUNOTORI2 Release/Separation Live Coverage

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 27/03/2011.

FE-5 Paolo Nespoli & FE-6 Cady Coleman spent most of their time preparing the HTV-2 (H-II Transfer Vehicle-2) for its unberthing tomorrow.

Cady's activities involved:

• Activation & video documentation of the REBR (Re-Entry Breakup Recorder) payload in the HTV [REBR is a kind of "black box" for reentry vehicles with a mass of 2 kg and a diameter of about 12 inches, containing GPS, temperature sensors, accelerometers, data recorder & an Iridium modem for taking re-entry data and "phoning" them "home", to be activated just before hatch closure. A second REBR is to be installed in ATV-2 "Johannes Kepler"].

Paolo meanwhile:

• Removed any R&MAs (Restraint & Mobility Aids), and also the PFE (Portable Fire Extinguisher) & PBA (Portable Breathing Apparatus) from the HTV.
• Removed the SD (Smoke Detector) from the HTV, to be used as a spare on ISS [since SD removal required turning off the HTV cabin fan by the ground, the crew was to watch for CO2 (carbon dioxide) symptoms or use portable fans].
• After vestibule de-outfitting was complete, set up a camcorder to view the Lab RWS (Robotics Workstation) to provide a live view of RWS monitor #2 during HTV departure tomorrow.

Cady & Paolo together:

• Closed the HTV hatch (~2:30 PM GMT) and installed the Node 2 Nadir CBM (Common Berthing Mechanism) CPAs (Controller Panel Assemblies).
• Completed Part 1 of HTV vestibule de-outfitting by taking out the IMV (Intermodule Ventilation) supply jumper & ARS (Atmosphere Revitalization System) jumper, two 1553 data cables and the secondary power cable from HTV.
• Partially installed the HTV thermal blankets, leaving the primary power jumper installed until tomorrow.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

HTV has been unberthed from the ISS.

Here's my latest NASASpaceflight article: Japan’s HTV-2 set to depart ISS after two month visit.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 28/03/2011.

Sayonara, Kounotori-2! The Japanese HTV-2 (H-II Transfer Vehicle-2) "White Stork 2" was successfully unberthed at 1:43 PM GMT and released from the Canadian robot arm at 3:45 PM GMT. Final Deorbit burn (DOM3): Wednesday (30/03) ~2:37 AM GMT; entry interface of the "Falling Star": ~3:09 AM GMT.

FE-6 Cady Coleman & FE-5 Paolo Nespoli started final preparations for releasing the HTV-2 by enabling the Cupola RWS (Robotic Workstation) UOP (Utility Outlet Panel) in Node 3 for power-up and connecting the UOP DCP (Display & Control Panel) power bypass cable at the Cupola RWS, plus installing the CCR (Cupola Crew Restraint) which stabilized the SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) operator.

After closing the protective shutters of the Lab & JPM windows, Cady activated the VSW-2 (Video Streaming Workstation-2) and SSC-19 (Station Support Computer-19) to provide an additional monitor view in the Cupola. [This channelled streaming video from the Lab to the Cupola over the network.]

Paolo & Cady then completed final HTV release steps by:

• Disconnecting the remaining power jumper line, putting HTV on its own internal power.
• Installing the HTV thermal cover & Node 2 Nadir Center Disk Cover (CDC).
• Closing the Node 2 Nadir hatch.
• Depressurizing the vestibule & performing leak checks for 30 minutes.
• Removing CBM (Common Berthing Mechanism) bolts and deploying latches.

Next, the two Flight Engineers grappled the HTV with SSRMS, performing hand controller calibrations on both RWS and setting up their displays & overlays at the Hot Backup RWS in the Lab for release.

After HCP (HTV Control Panel) setup & checkout, next steps were:

• Unberthing the HTV with the SSRMS at 1:43 PM GMT.
• Moving the HTV to the release position.
• Releasing it from the SSRMS at 3:45 PM GMT.

Cady & Paolo then:

• Monitored HTV departure by verifying IDM1 (ISS Departure Maneuver 1) and IDM2 burns, and Passive Abort Setting.
• Parked the SSRMS.
• Performed the usual post-MSS (Mobile Service System) operations cleanup for the LAB RWS, including disconnecting the DCP cable).
• Cleaned up the Cupola RWS (inhibiting the UOP, removing the CCR) after MSS was powered down by ground commanding.
• Performed photo/video clean-up of LAB camcorder and VTR (Video Tape Recorder) Bypass Cable configuration.
• Inhibited and temporarily stowed the HCP in the JPM (JEM Pressurized Module). [Final Proximity systems deactivation and HCP stow is scheduled for tomorrow to give SSIPC (Space Station Integration & Promotion Center)/Tsukuba time to check out a new model transponder on HTV during the departure.]

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Here's a great video of the HTV-2 release.​

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Trash-laden HTV cargo ship departs space station

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2) Mission Completed.

After the final de-orbit maneuver, the KOUNOTORI2 lowered its orbiting altitude and reached the altitude of 120 km. The KOUNOTORI2 reentered Earth’s atmosphere at 0:09 p.m. on March 30, over the East Coast of New Zealand. The KOUNOTORI2 successfully completed its cargo supply mission to the ISS.

Estimated Reentry Time: 0:09 p.m. March 30.

Estimated Time of Debris Splashdown in the Ocean: 0:21 p.m. to 0:41 p.m. March 30.

------------------------------------------------------------​

So long, HTV-2. We salute you.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now: Japan's HTV cargo freighter proves useful to the end

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

First REBR Reentry a Success.

EL SEGUNDO, March 30 -- The first Reentry Breakup Recorder (REBR), an instrument designed and constructed by engineers at The Aerospace Corporation, successfully recorded data as it plunged through the atmosphere on Tuesday night aboard the disintegrating Japanese HTV-2 spacecraft.

The REBR then "phoned home" the data via the Iridium satellite system as it fell into the South Pacific Ocean Tuesday evening.

"It performed beautifully," said Dr. Bill Ailor, director of Aerospace's Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies and REBR development team leader. "The data we've gathered is absolutely unique and will shed new light on the phenomenon of how satellites and launch stages break apart on reentry."

Although it was not designed to survive impact with the water, the REBR did in fact remain intact and continued to transmit data for hours as it bobbed in the ocean between Chile and New Zealand. Analysis of the data will take six to eight weeks.

The REBR is a small autonomous device that is designed to record temperature, acceleration, rotation rate, and other data as a spacecraft reenters Earth's atmosphere.

The Aerospace Corporation designed REBR to collect data during atmospheric reentries of space hardware in order to help understand breakup and increase the safety of such reentries. The REBR project was supported by the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and the Boeing Company. The first flight test of the small, autonomous device was coordinated by the Department of Defense's Space Test Program.

A second REBR will reenter the atmosphere aboard the European ATV2 vehicle in early June.

 

[Zachstar]

Now THAT is DAMN good design work! Bravo! To the REBR Team!