Overview
Kounotori 5, also designated HTV‑5, was the fifth flight of the Japanese H‑II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) series, a cargo spacecraft developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). The name “Kounotori” means “white stork” in Japanese, reflecting the vehicle’s role in transporting supplies.
Development and Design
The HTV series was designed to deliver both pressurised and unpressurised cargo to the ISS and to dispose of waste by burning up in the atmosphere after departure. Kounotori 5 was manufactured by JAXA in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and incorporated the standard HTV configuration: a pressurised cargo module, an unpressurised cargo module (when used), a service module with solar arrays, and a guidance‑navigation‑control system.
Launch
- Date and Time: 19 August 2015, 19:55 UTC
- Launch Vehicle: H‑IIB 6 (a two‑stage liquid‑fuel rocket)
- Launch Site: Tanegashima Space Center, Yoshinobu Launch Complex, Japan
Mission Profile
After launch, Kounotori 5 performed a series of phasing burns to rendezvous with the ISS. It was captured by the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm on 23 August 2015 and subsequently berthed to the nadir (earth‑facing) port of the Harmony module’s Pressurized Mating Adapter.
Cargo
Kounotori 5 delivered approximately 5.9 tonnes (≈ 5 900 kg) of cargo to the ISS, including:
- Pressurised supplies such as food, water, crew provisions, experiment hardware, and replacement components for station systems.
- Unpressurised payloads mounted on the external pallet, intended for exposure to the space environment.
The exact split between pressurised and unpressurised cargo has not been publicly detailed for this specific flight; however, the total delivered mass is consistent with previous HTV missions.
Departure and Disposal
After a stay of roughly 67 days, the spacecraft was loaded with waste material and equipment slated for disposal. It was released from the ISS on 29 October 2015, performed a de‑orbit burn, and re‑entered Earth’s atmosphere, where it disintegrated over the Pacific Ocean on 3 November 2015. No surviving hardware was recovered, as the HTV is a fully disposable vehicle.
Legacy
Kounotori 5 was succeeded by Kounotori 6 (HTV‑6), launched in December 2015, and contributed to the continuous supply chain that supported ISS operations during the mid‑2010s. The HTV series, including Kounotori 5, demonstrated Japan’s capability to autonomously launch and operate cargo missions to a low‑Earth‑orbit outpost.
See also
- H‑II Transfer Vehicle (HTV)
- International Space Station resupply program
- JAXA
References
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) official press releases, 2015.
- United Launch Alliance, “HTV‑5 Mission Overview,” 2015.
- ISS Program Documentation, NASA, 2015.