MEXT(Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) announced redesigned HTV concept for 50% cost reduction.This version will be introduced started from HTV10.http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20150520k0000e040188000c.html
This would be launched on an H-2A-204?
If my (very bad) understanding of Japanese is correct, they are looking at cutting the cost by about 100 billion yen (~$US 82m) and lighten the spacecraft up by 30%, is that correct?
Official document. Useful information are not so many.Avionics Module and Propulsion Module are integrated in a Service Module.http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu2/071/shiryo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2015/05/28/1358152_1.pdf
New presentation goes into more detail:http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu2/059/shiryo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2015/07/16/1359656_5.pdf
I apologize for resurrecting this thread if there's a better one, but I couldn't find any. The new article on the ISS schedule mentions that the first HTV-X launch will be in February of 2022. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/06/station-planning-new-crew-launch-dates/Do we know what the current design of HTV-X is?