Japan Sets Launch to ISS in January 2011

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced January 20, 2011 as the date for launch of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 2 (H-IIB F2) with the H-II Transfer Vehicle 2 (HTV2, a cargo transporter to the International Space Station) onboard from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. This will be the second JAXA cargo mission to the ISS with HTV-1 docking the orbiting space station in September 2009. JAXA is also planning further ISS missions.

Meanwhile, the launch of the European cargo spacecraft Johannes Kepler (ATV-2) cargo spacecraft is being planned for February 2011 to re-supply the ISS. The ATV-3 Edoardo Amaldi will be launched about one year later. The ESA launched the first cargo mission to the ISS whereupon many watched the mission from the ground and the subsequent re-entry.

American commercial space launch firms SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corporation are expected to begin delivery of cargo to the space station under NASA contract in 2011 as the space shuttle fleet is retired.