| |
Japan's first unmanned cargo spacecraft docked successfully to the International Space Station on Friday. The spacecraft is on a mission to deliver 4.5 tonnes of goods to ISS crew.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said that H-II Transfer Vehicle moved within 10 metres of the station before astronauts on board used the station's robotic arm to reel the H-II the rest of the way in.
The ship was locked to the station and its hatch opened before astronauts begin unloading its cargo of frozen foods, clothing, shampoo and equipment for the Japanese-built Kibo laboratory on the station.
The spacecraft which has been built for one-time use was blasted off on Sep 11 from the Tanegashima space centre in the southern province of Kagoshima. H-II will burn up on its return as it re-enters earth's atmosphere.
Japan plans to launch similar cargo crafts every year until 2015.
