Article Posted on : - Jan 24, 2011

Japan launched a rocket carrying a cargo transfer vehicle Kounotori 2 to the International Space Station (ISS) on January 22. Photo: JAXA

TOKYO (BNS): The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has successfully launched the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No.2 (H-IIB F2) with the KOUNOTORI2 (HTV2) a cargo transfer vehicle to the International Space Station (ISS), according to the space agency.

The H-2B rocket was launched at 0537 GMT (12:37 a.m. EST) on Saturday from the Tanegashima Space Center.

The Kounotori 2 is a 33 feet-long and 14 feet wide gold-colored cylinder, which is capable of carrying up to 6 tons of pressurized and unpressurized cargo to the ISS, it said.

The launch vehicle flew smoothly after liftoff and separation of the KOUNOTORI2 was confirmed by the JAXA scientists.