Overview
- JAXA launched HTV‑X No.1 atop H3 No.7 from Tanegashima on Oct. 26 and confirmed successful orbital insertion.
- H3 No.7 marked the first flight of the high‑thrust 2‑4 setup with four solid boosters, broadening Japan’s heavy‑lift capability for missions including MMX and large GEO satellites.
- Astronaut Kimiya Yui is scheduled to capture the vehicle with the ISS robotic arm around Oct. 30 before berthing.
- The cargo includes fresh food and water, Kibo’s mid‑sized exposure experiment adapter, and a carbon‑dioxide removal demonstrator for future Moon and Mars exploration.
- HTV‑X increases cargo capacity to nearly six tonnes and supplies in‑flight power for temperature‑sensitive samples, with this mission planning up to six months berthed followed by about three months of small‑sat deployments and on‑orbit work, and later flights slated to demonstrate autonomous docking for Gateway support.