Jul 9, 2009
Japanese space agency announces ISS cargo tranfer vehicle test flight
JAXA's resupply ship for the ISS
JAXA, the Japanese Space Agency, has announced September 11 as the launch date for its test fight of a cargo system for re-supplying the International Space Station.
Presumably, the launch date was determined by orbital mechanics, and is not related to the terrorist attack of 2001.
In any case, it looks like Japan is joining a growing number of countries and companies prepared to send supplies to the ISS. JAXA will be using their H-IIB heavy lift launch vehicle. The supply ship is called the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV).
