TANEGASHIMA, Kagoshima Pref.: A Japanese H-2B rocket successfully lifted off carrying the Kounotori 9 unmanned cargo spacecraft from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in the small hours of Thursday.

The cargo ship separated from the rocket about 15 minutes after the launch by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. at 2:31 a.m. (5:31 p.m. Wednesday GMT).

The launch involved the final models of the H-2B rocket and the Kounotori after their debut in 2009. All nine H-2B rocket launches carrying Kounotori vehicles were successful.

Accumulated technologies will be utilized for the HTV-X successor cargo spacecraft currently under development by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA. An H-3 rocket carrying the first HTV-X is expected to be launched in fiscal 2021.

The Kounotori 9 will deliver such supplies as water and food to the International Space Station, while carrying Japan-made large lithium ion batteries for electricity supply to the ISS.

The cargo ship is slated to be caught by a robotic arm of the ISS Monday night before docking with the ISS Tuesday morning.

The Kounotori 9 also carries equipment for an interactive live streaming program planned by Sky Perfect JSAT Corp. and others using Japan's Kibo experimental module of the ISS.

After the US space shuttle retired in 2011, the Kounotori has been serving as the sole spacecraft to deliver large equipment to the ISS.

Utilizing a capsule, the Kounotori 7 in 2018 succeeded in bringing back experimental samples from the ISS to Earth.

The HTV-X will have a payload capacity of some 8 tons, up from 6 tons for the Kounotori, enabling it to transport larger extravehicular equipment.

The next-generation cargo vehicle may also be used to deliver supplies to the Lunar Orbital Gateway proposed by the United States.

"The Kounotori has been playing a crucial role in running the ISS," JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa told a press conference after Thursday's launch.

"We will utilize accumulated technologies and experience for the HTV-X," he said.

JIJI Press