14 DAY TRIAL // This past Sunday, a Japanese Kounotori (“White Stork”) cargo craft carrying 4.5 tons of supplies was scheduled to launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan, at 8:58 a.m. EDT on the dot. Its destination: the International Space Station.
Due to bad weather, however, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA ) decided to postpone the launch.
First, it was said that the cargo craft would blast off this Monday, August 17. Then, the launch was yet again postponed, this time for Wednesday, August 19.
Unless the weather improves by then, the Japanese cargo craft will remain grounded for a few more days.
“The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has postponed the launch of its H-II Transport Vehicle (HTV)-5 to the International Space Station to 7:50 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 19,” NASA writes in a report on this upcoming launch.
“JAXA is delaying the launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan due to an unfavorable weather forecast at the launch site for the next two days, which may delay the launch date further,” the US space agency further details.
It will take the cargo craft a few days to reach its destination
Mission scientists expect it will take JAXA's H-II Transport Vehicle (HTV)-5 about five days to reach and rendezvous with the International Space Station.
Should the cargo craft launch this coming Wednesday, August 19, this means that it will make it to the International Space Station next Monday, August 24. Under this scenario, the cargo craft should be captured by the station at 6:55 a.m. EDT.
As noted, the cargo craft is expected to deliver a total of 4.5 tons of supplies to the International Space Station. These supplies include water, food, spare parts and experiment hardware.
Both the launch and the moment the cargo craft is captured by the station will be broadcasted live by NASA Television.
