HTV Launch Readiness Status and the Next Plan

Abstract

The H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) is an unmanned transfer vehicle launched by an H-IIB rocket. It will support the International Space Station (ISS) program alongside the space shuttle, Soyuz, Progress, and ATV. JAXA is conducting pre-launch operations of the first HTV with its cargo at Tanegashima Space Center now and preparing its Control Center at Tsukuba Space Center. It is the final phase of 10 years of HTV development. This paper presents the development status and operation preparation for the HTV Launch in September 2009, then mentions future missions built upon HTV technical heritage.