New Unmanned Japanese Re-Supply Vessel For the ISS 93
Joshua writes "JAXA, Japan's version of NASA, has scheduled the launch of its new rocket, the H-IIB, for September 11th, 2009. The rocket will be carrying up the first in a series of unmanned supply vessels for the ISS called the HTV. The new Japanese addition to the international space fleet comes as a huge welcome sign to NASA, who has scheduled the space shuttle to retire in 2010. The HTV will be able to transport vital supplies, equipment, and experiments to the ISS, a job that the US space shuttle has been doing largely up until now. Yearly launches for the H-II2 and HTV are scheduled between now and 2015. Until NASA can finish the next generation Ares I rocket, which isn't likely to be finished before 2017, taking astronauts into space and to the ISS will likely become the job of Russia."
Re:Sure (Score:5, Funny)
I promise you, the full force of Japanese industry is dedicated to the effort, if for no other reason than they have run out of fetishes involving real women.
Has to be said (Score:1, Funny)
Of course, in an emergency, the rocket will transform into a giant robot and defend the Earth from alien invaders.
USA Imperial vs Rest of World Decimal programs? (Score:3, Funny)
Hey maybe the Imperial measurement countries (USA+Liberia+Burma) will go one way and the Decimal countries (Rest of the World) will go another?
Would make it easier all round for the engineers and the construction crews!
WHY did it have to be unmanned?! (Score:3, Funny)