Bad Weather Again Delays Launch of Japanese Cargo Ship to Space Station

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Aug 16, 2015, 11:53 ET

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has postponed the launch of its H-II Transport Vehicle (HTV)-5 to the International Space Station to 7:50 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Aug. 19. NASA Television will carry live coverage of the event beginning at 7 a.m.

JAXA is delaying the launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan due to an unfavorable weather forecast at the launch site for the next two days, which may delay the launch date further.

Loaded with more than 4.5 tons of supplies, including water, spare parts and experiment hardware for the six-person space station crew, the unpiloted cargo craft, named Kounotori, Japanese for "white stork," will travel five days to reach the station.

Rendezvous and grapple of the HTV-5 now is scheduled for approximately 6:55 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24. NASA TV coverage will begin at 5:15 a.m. Installation coverage will now begin at 9:15 a.m. for installation at approximately 9:45 a.m.

For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

For more information about the International Space Station and its crew, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station

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SOURCE NASA