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

[Fuji]

New information 

HTV3 carry two reentry data recorder.
One is REBR and the other one is i-Ball which developed IHI Aerospace. i-Ball has a still camera

From the HTV3, main engine and RCS thruster are replaced Japanese engine.

It's not new, but I forgot the introduction. HTV3 carry the Aquatic Habitat (AQH).
http://iss.jaxa.jp/kibo/kibomefc/aqh_e.html


Here is the souce Japanese document.
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2012/03/20120314_sac_htv3.pdf

[Space Pete]

Thanks for the info Fuji. Lots of cool cargo aboard HTV-3.

[Danderman]

Media invited MHI for H-IIB F-3 rocket pre-shippment event.
The rocket will be shipped Tanegashima March 14.
Good photos released here.
http://www.sacj.org/openbbs/

[Fuji]

Launch of the H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI3" (HTV3) Aboard the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 3
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2012/03/20120321_h2bf3_e.html

Scheduled date of launch: July 21 (Saturday), 2012 (Japan Standard Time, JST)
Launch time : Around 11:18 a.m. (JST)
Launch windows : July 22 (Sunday) through August 31 (Friday)

[Fuji]

Hi-resolution photo is here.
http://issstream.tksc.jaxa.jp/iss/photo/120314_htv3.jpg

[Space Pete]

Some great photos & video of the CoNNeCT/SCaN Testbed construction, along with a great animation of the robotics ops to transfer it from HTV-3 to the ISS, is on this page:

http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/SOPO/SCO/CoNNeCT

[Fuji]

This is Japanese chart, but you can see the data collection altitude is different from REBR and i-Ball.

[Space Pete]

Some good info on & images of the ISERV payload launching on HTV-3.

SERVIR: Expanding Sensor Networks from the Ground to the International Space Station
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/servir/servir_iss_120415.html

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Also, here is the HTV-3 mission patch:
http://iss.jaxa.jp/library/photo/htv3-logo.php

[Fuji]

Latest Photo.

Hi-resolution photo is here.
http://issstream.tksc.jaxa.jp/iss/photo/120507_htv3_1.jpg

[Prober]

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

[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

[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