What was the first Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle mission to the ISS?

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The first Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle mission to the ISS was HTV-1.

Also called the HTV Demonstration Flight or HTV Technical Demonstration Vehicle, HTV-1 launched from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center on September 10, 2009. It was an uncrewed JAXA cargo spacecraft designed to resupply the station and support the Japanese Kibo laboratory.

HTV-1 carried about 4,500 kilograms of cargo, divided between a pressurized compartment and an unpressurized carrier. Its payload included supplies for the crew, equipment for Kibo, and external experiments such as SMILES and HREP. After approaching the station, it was captured by the Canadarm2 robotic arm and berthed to Harmony on September 17.

The names in the choices can cause confusion: Kounotori 3 was HTV-3, while HTV-2 was the second vehicle in the series. SpaceX CRS-1 was an American Dragon cargo mission, not a Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle. HTV-1 completed its 52-day demonstration mission and burned up during planned re-entry.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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