LIVE: H-IIB launch with HTV-3 - July 21 - Berthing with ISS - July 27, 2012

[Fuji]

Been meaning to ask, what does the i ball do?

Basically same as the REBR, Reentry environmental data collection.

[bolun]

June 7, 2012 Updated
 
KOUNOTORI3 revealed to the media at TNSC

On June 1 (Fri.), the H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI3" (HTV3, a cargo transporter to the International Space Station) was revealed to the media at the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly Building 2 at the Tanegashima Space Center. The KOUNOTORI3 will be packed with food and daily necessities for astronauts aboard the ISS, test equipment for aquatic organisms, and other experiment devices including a small satellite, then will be launched by the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 3 at 11:18 a.m. on July 21, 2012 (Japan Standard Time.) The KOUNOTORI is currently under preparations for its journey to space.

http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/htv/index_e.html

http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/mission/htv-3/news/kounotori3_120515.html

[bolun]

KOUNOTORI3 completes its assembly process

[robertross]

Nice.

[FinalFrontier]

Glad to see it all coming together. Can't wait for the launch, I always enjoy HTV flights.

[bolun]

KOUNOTORI3 (HTV3) - Third Expedition to Space

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/3uxRbANmxik&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/3uxRbANmxik&rel=1</a>

[mto]

Excellent vid. Thanks for posting it.

[bolun]

http://iss.jaxa.jp/library/photo/htv3-logo.php

HTV-3 mission logo

[yoichi]

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/h2bf3/index_e.html
June 21, 2012 Updated
KOUNOTORI3/H-IIB F3 Special Site now open!
 JAXA will launch the KOUNOTORI3 (a cargo transporter to the International Space Station, ISS) by H-IIB Launch vehicle No.3 on July 21 from the Tanegashima Space Center. We have opened the KOUNOTORI3/H-IIB F3 Special Site to be ready for the launch.
 Please check the special site for more information. We have also started welcoming your support messages, so please send them to us!

[yoichi]

i-Ball
http://twitpic.com/photos/koumeiShibata

[Fuji]

Latest photo (Jun. 30th.)
http://issstream.tksc.jaxa.jp/iss/photo/120630_htv3_fairing.jpg

[Prober]

very good Fuji, do you know if they have added any more cams to HTV-3?   
 
Know many of us will be watching alot closer. 

[Alpha Control]

Excellent vid. Thanks for posting it.

Concur. That was a fascinating in-depth review of HTV-3.

[Fuji]

very good Fuji, do you know if they have added any more cams to HTV-3?   
 
Know many of us will be watching alot closer. 

NO.
 i-Ball has one PLC internal camera, but this camera is used reentry only.

[bolun]

July 4, 2012 Updated
 
KOUNOTORI3 under preparation to be loaded onto the H-IIB F3

The KOUNOTORI3 (HTV3), a cargo transporter to the International Space Station, was confirmed to have no problems for launch after propellant loading and battery charging followed by a visual inspection at the Spacecraft and Fairing Assembly Building 2 (SFA2) at the Tanegashima Space Center.

On June 26 and 27, the KOUNOTORI3 was mated with the Payload Attach Fitting (PAF,) which is a holding stand of a payload on the launch vehicle. From June 30 thru July 1, the KOUNOTORI3 was encapsulated by a fairing, which is a protective cover on the top of the launch vehicle.

The encapsulated KOUNOTORI3 will be moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), and loaded onto the H-IIB F3. Some last-minute cargo will also be packed in the KOUNOTORI3 at the VAB

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/h2bf3/index_e.html