First Japanese unmanned cargo ship docks with space station

19 Sep, 2009

Japan's first unmanned cargo spacecraft docked Friday to the International Space Station to deliver 4.5 tons of goods to its crew.The H-II Transfer Vehicle manoeuvred 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 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.
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.

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