Space station astronauts eager to open "golden treasure box" from Japan

"Yui used the outpost's robotic arm to grapple the HTV-X spacecraft at 11:58 am EDT (15:58 UTC) on Wednesday. The capture capped a three-and-a-half-day transit from a launch pad on Tanegashima Island in southern Japan. The spacecraft flew to space atop Japan's H3 rocket, replacing the H-II launcher family used for Japan's previous resupply missions to the ISS. The H3 and HTV-X are both manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries."

"Once in orbit, HTV-X unfurled its power-generating solar panels. This is one of the new ship's most significant differences from the HTV, which had its solar panels mounted directly on the body of the spacecraft. By all accounts, the HTV-X's modified computers, navigation sensors, and propulsion system all functioned as intended, leading to the mission's on-time arrival at the ISS. Rob Navias, a NASA spokesperson, called the HTV-X's first flight "flawless" during the agency's streaming commentary of the rendezvous: "Everything went by the book.""

"At 26 feet (8 meters) long, the HTV-X is somewhat shorter than the vehicle it replaces. But an improved design gives the HTV-X more capacity, with the ability to accommodate more than 9,000 pounds (4.1 metric tons) inside its pressurized cargo module, about 25 percent more than the HTV. The new spacecraft boasts a similar enhancement in carrying capacity for external cargo, such as spares and science instruments, to be mounted on the outside of the space station."

Yui used the outpost's robotic arm to grapple the HTV-X spacecraft at 11:58 am EDT (15:58 UTC), concluding a three-and-a-half-day transit from Tanegashima Island. The spacecraft launched on Japan's new H3 rocket, both H3 and HTV-X built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Once in orbit the HTV-X unfurled its power-generating solar panels, a major change from the HTV. Modified computers, navigation sensors, and propulsion operated as intended, enabling on-time arrival. The HTV-X measures 26 feet (8 meters), offers about 25 percent more pressurized cargo capacity, and can carry more external payloads. Japan plans at least three ISS missions and potential Gateway logistics.

Read at Ars Technica