The H-IIB rocket ferrying cargo including food, water and experimental tools for astronauts took off from the Tanegashima space centre in southern Japan on schedule at 2:37 pm (0537 GMT).

The rocket, which carries the "Kounotori (stork) 2" unmanned cargo transporter, was due to launch Thursday but was delayed by bad weather, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).