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

[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

[Fuji]

KOUNOTORI3 was moved to the VAB
http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv3_moved_to_vab.html

High-resolution Photo is here.
http://issstream.tksc.jaxa.jp/iss/photo/120707_htv3_vab2.jpg

[jacqmans]

[dsmillman]

The HTV-3 press kit is avaialble at:

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/h2bf3/pdf/h2bf3_presskit_e.pdf

[Prober]

The HTV-3 press kit is avaialble at:

http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/h2bf3/pdf/h2bf3_presskit_e.pdf

That is one first rate press kit.  Much information to watch closer.

"Following the completion of its main mission of injecting its payload, the controlled re-entry test of the second stage will be performed"  Page2

 The reverse thrust to leave the orbit will be performed by the second stage LE-5B-2 engine idle mode
combustion (by providing propellant with a thrust of gas instead of turning on the turbo-pump. ）Page 5

must do a complete review of this kit.

[input~2]

NOTAM

J4475/12 - REF AIP SUP 059/12 ITEM 1,2,3
ROCKET H2B-F3 WILL BE LAUNCHED
LAUNCHING DATE/TIME : BTN 0148 AND 0248(UTC)
                      ON 21 JUL 2012. SFC - UNL, 16 JUL 04:54 2012 UNTIL 21
JUL 03:18 2012 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 16 JUL 04:54 2012

[input~2]

Navigational warning

NAVAREA  NO.12-0470       Date:2012/07/16 12 UTC

 NORTH PACIFIC, WESTERN PART AND SOUTH   
 PACIFIC, SOUTHERN PART.   
 ROCKET, H-2B, LAUNCHING.   
 IMPACT HOURS A TO C, 210154Z TO 210318Z   
 JUL AND D, 210359Z TO 210513Z JUL.   
 IMPACT AREAS BOUNDED BY   
 A. 29-04-00N 133-49-00E   
    29-14-32N 133-45-40E   
    29-17-30N 133-46-47E   
    29-21-00N 134-00-20E   
    28-54-05N 135-02-12E   
    28-36-19N 134-54-46E.   
 B. 27-09-35N 136-16-53E     
    27-52-35N 136-51-52E   
    26-09-06N 138-54-47E   
    25-33-34N 139-05-01E   
    25-06-00N 138-42-00E.   
 C. 14-29N 148-45E 15-36N 150-05E   
    09-56N 154-49E 08-50N 153-28E.   
 D. 46-00S 167-00W 46-00S 106-00W   
    53-00S 106-00W 53-00S 155-00W   
    48-27S 167-00W.   
 CANCEL THIS MSG 210613Z JUL.   

A: Estimated impact area of solid rocket boosters
B: Estimated impact area of fairing
C: Estimated impact area of 1st stage main engine
D: Estimated impact area of 2nd stage

[input~2]

[jacqmans]

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-134

NASA TV COVERAGE SET FOR LAUNCH, CAPTURE OF JAPANESE CARGO SHIP

HOUSTON -- NASA Television coverage of the launch and arrival of an
unpiloted cargo spacecraft to supply the International Space Station
will begin at 8:15 p.m. CDT, Friday, July 20. The Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA) "Kounotori 3" H-II Transfer Vehicle, or
HTV-3, is set to launch at 9:06 p.m. July 20 (11:06 a.m. Japan time
on July 21) from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.

The 16.5-ton HTV-3 is carrying almost 4 tons of supplies and
experiment hardware. It will launch atop an H-IIB rocket. The launch
will begin a weeklong journey to the station.

NASA TV coverage of Kounotori 3's approach to the station will begin
at 6 a.m. Friday, July 27. The cargo spacecraft will be commanded to
fly within about 40 feet while Expedition 32 Flight Engineers Joe
Acaba of NASA and Aki Hoshide of JAXA use Canadarm2, the station's
Canadian Space Agency-provided robotic arm, to grapple the vehicle
and berth it to a docking port on the Earth-facing side of the
Harmony node. Grapple and berthing are scheduled for around 7 a.m.

NASA Television schedules are available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv


For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

[Fuji]

HTV-3, is set to launch at 9:06 p.m. July 20 (11:06 a.m. Japan time
on July 21) from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan.

Old information
Launch date is now setting 11:18 a.m.  Japan time.
http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/htv/news/htv3_moved_to_vab.html

[bolun]

Final preparation for KOUNOTORI3 launch continues

At the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) of the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC), final preparation for KOUNOTORI launch continues.

On July 9, final inspection was performed, and found no NG on the vehicle. From July 13 to 15, a rehearsal was conducted simulating the launch operation.

Late access cargo loading will continue until July 19. Then the hatch will be closed, and HIIB/KOUNOTORI3 will be carried to the launch pad.

The target launch date and time for KOUNOTORI3 is 11:18 a.m., July 21, 2012.

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

[js117]

Is this the first time ESA ATV and Japanese HTV3 have been  docked at
the same time.

[AnalogMan]

Is this the first time ESA ATV and Japanese HTV3 have been  docked at
the same time.

ATV-2 and HTV-2 had overlapping stays at the ISS during the period Februray 24 to March 28, 2011.
ATV-1 and HTV-1 visits were separated by about one year.

[Fuji]

Launch Time of H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 3
with H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI3" (HTV3) Onboard
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2012/07/20120719_h2bf3_time_e.html

Launch time  11:06:18 a.m. on July 21, 2012 (JST.)

[jacqmans]

RELEASE: 12-241

EARTH-OBSERVING CAMERA TO LAUNCH TO INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

WASHINGTON -- A remote-controlled Earth-observing camera system called
ISERV will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS)
aboard the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's third H-II Transfer
Vehicle (HTV-3) this week. Once installed, the system will be
directed by researchers on the ground to acquire imagery of specific
areas of the globe for disaster analysis and environmental studies.

ISERV Pathfinder is a new imaging instrument designed and built at
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The HTV-3
launch is scheduled for 10:06 p.m. EDT July 20 from the Tanegashima
Space Center in southern Japan.

ISERV stands for the International Space Station SERVIR Environmental
Research and Visualization System. The space station provides
researchers a unique perspective through global observations from
space. SERVIR is a Spanish acronym meaning "to serve." Also known as
the Regional Visualization and Monitoring System, the program
provides satellite data and tools to environmental decision makers in
developing countries. SERVIR is a partnership between NASA and the
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

ISERV will be installed in the Window Observational Research Facility
(WORF) in the station's Destiny laboratory. The system is intended to
help scientists gain operational experience and expertise and inform
the design of a more capable system in the future. Ideally, a future
operational system will be able to monitor disasters on Earth.

"ISERV came about because officials in developing countries are
sometimes unable to acquire the images they need to address
environmental threats and provide post-disaster assessments," said
Nancy Searby, capacity building program manager for the SERVIR
program at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "The SERVIR team
approached NASA's ISS and Earth Science Applied Sciences Program with
the concept of acquiring the needed imagery from the ISS. The ISERV
test bed payload is a result of that collaboration."

The ISERV system, based on a modified commercial telescope and driven
by custom software, will use the Earth-facing Destiny science window
to obtain images of Earth's surface. It will then transmit the data
to scientists on the ground.

"Images captured from ISERV on the ISS could provide valuable
information back here on Earth," said Dan Irwin, SERVIR program
director at Marshall. "We hope it will provide new data and
information from space related to natural disasters, environmental
crises and the increased effects of climate variability on human
populations."

ISERV is the first of an envisioned series of space station
Earth-observing instruments, each to feature progressively more
capable sensors. Future sensors could be mounted on the exterior of
the station for a clearer, wider view of Earth. ISERV development was
funded as a collaboration between NASA's Human Exploration and
Operations Directorate and the Science Mission Directorate's Earth
Science Division Applied Sciences Program.

The team at the Payload Operations Center at Marshall is creating
computer-based materials for training the space station crew to
assemble and install ISERV in the WORF rack. Normal operations aboard
station are set to begin in November.

"The addition of ISERV will enhance the growing set of tools aboard
the station to monitor Earth," said Julie Robinson, International
Space Station program scientist at NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston. "It reaffirms the station's commitment to helping solve
global issues."

SERVIR consists of a coordination office and student research
laboratory at Marshall and active hubs located in Kenya and Nepal as
well as a network affiliate in Panama. The coordination develops
application prototypes for the SERVIR website, and integrates new or
relevant technologies from NASA and other scientific research partner
organizations into the system to meet the needs of the host
countries. SERVIR's primary technical work occurs at the hubs, which
are staffed by in-country and in-region experts. The hubs coordinate
with other international and national organizations in their
respective regions regarding climate change, environmental
monitoring, disasters, weather and mapping, among others.

SERVIR, jointly funded by NASA and USAID, is part of the Earth Science
Division's Applied Sciences Program in NASA's Science Mission
Directorate in Washington. Four other NASA field centers work with
Marshall on the program: Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,
Md.; Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif.; the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.; and Langley Research
Center in Hampton, Va.

For more information about the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/station

For more information about SERVIR, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/servir

[jcm]

One interesting aspect of this mission is the launch of Cubesats from ISS.
The 5 Cubesats  (4 x 1U, 1 x 2U) will be carried in J-SSOD deployers, which are like the P-PODs
that Cal Poly developed, capable of ejecting 3 x 1U cubes or 1 3U cubesat...
each J-SSOD with its cubesats will be stuffed in a CTB (Cargo Transfer Bag)
and carried up in the pressurized section of the HTV. The crew will transfer them
to the Kibo module and attached the J-SSODs to a widget called the MPEP - the Multi Purpose Experiment Platform (親アーム先端取付型実験プラットフォーム)
which is a flat plate about 0.5 x 0.5 m.  They will then stash the MPEP/J-SSODs
in the JEM Airlock, and the JEM RMS arm will fetch it out and stick the MPEP
pointing in the right direction. They fire off the J-SSODs, the cubesats pop out
in an appropriate direction to not hit the ISS, and the MPEP/J-SSODs are put
back in the airlock.  This operation thus hits almost all of the different bits of the JAXA ISS effort from HTV, JEM-PM, Airlock, JEM-RMS etc.

The one bit I'm not sure about is this:what is this MPEP thing? I don't see it mentioned in the HTV press kit as something being brought up on this flight.
Neither do I notice it mentioned in earlier descriptions of the Kibo airlock as standard equipment that was aboard at launch on STS-124. Does anyone know where the MPEP comes from?


[Edit: Of course I'd forgotten there's a whole thread on this at
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24308.0
so I'll ask the question again there...]