The 7th of Japan’s “Kounotori” cargo supply crafts launched towards its resupply mission to the International Space Station on Saturday, September 22nd after several delays. Among the supplies being carried are more replacement batteries for the Space Station’s electrical systems, multiple cubesats for independant deployment and research purposes, and the first test of a samples return capsule, similar to one used on the Russian Space Station MIR in the 90’s, to return small materials samples to Earth.
I don’t have too much additional to say with regards to this launch – it was a pretty straightforward H-II booster launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. It was a night launch, so details are lost but it still provided quite a nice view in and of itself.
As always, below is the launch video. Enjoy.