KOUNOTORI-4 ( HTV-4 )

The HTV-4 was successfully launched to the International Space Station on Aug 3, 2013 from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex in Tanegashima, Japan.

This is JAXA's (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) fourth unmanned space vehicle for International Space Station (ISS) re-supply and waste cargo disposal. HTV-1 , HTV-2 and HTV-3 were successfully launched in 2009, 2011 and 2012 respectively.

For this mission, the HTV-4 will carry the following payloads:

-STP-H4 (Space Test Program-Houston 4) - will be robotically placed on ELC-1

-MBSU (Main Bus Switching Unit) -will be robotically placed on ESP-2

-UTA (Utility Transfer Assembly) -will be robotically placed on ELC-4

The STP-H3 will be removed from its current location on pallet ELC-3 and placed on HTV-4 Exposed Pallet to be discarded upon re-entry.

The japanese robot KIROBO is also launched aboard the HTV-4.

The assembly manual of the HTV-4 "Kounotori4" can be downloaded from page HTV-1.

1:100 Draft scale model shown

Kounotori-4 with the Surface Potential Sensor

HTV-4 berthed to ISS	HTV-4 pallet on KIBO's EP	ELC-4 with new UTA installed

ELC-1 with STP-H4 installed	ESP-2 with MBSU installed	Another view of ESP-2 with new MBSU

STP-H3 on HTV-4 for disposal	HTV-4 pallet with STP-H3 for disposal	ELC-3 without STP-H3

HTV-4 ready for unberthing and re-entry

ISS - HTV4 Configuration 2013

Source: JAXA website

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