Article Posted on : - Aug 04, 2013

The H-IIB rocket launches to ISS from the Tanegashima Space Center on Sunday. A JAXA photo

TOKYO (BNS): A Japanese rocket, carrying cargo and a tiny talking robot, successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the H-IIB unmanned rocket with the Kounotori4 (HTV4) cargo ship onboard from the Tanegashima Space Center at 4:48 am local time (1948 GMT Saturday).

The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and at about 14 minutes and 59 seconds after liftoff, the separation of Kounotori4 was confirmed, JAXA said.

Besides carrying drinking water, food, clothing and other supplies for the ISS crew members, the Kounotori4 is carrying a small robot, named 'Kirobo'.

The humanoid robot has been launched as a companion of Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is set to join the ISS crew later this year and would become the first Japanese astronaut to command the orbital outpost.

The Kounotori4 space freighter will arrive at the ISS on August 9.