The first H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-1) atop Japan's first H-2B rocket launched at 2:01:46 a.m. JST on September 11 (12:01:46 p.m. CDT, September 10) from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 15 minutes and 10 seconds after liftoff, the separation of HTV-1 was confirmed.
Credit: JAXA/NASA TV
Carrying about 3.5 tons of pressurized and unpressurized supplies to the International Space Station, HTV-1 is scheduled to be captured and attached to the outpost on Thursday, September 17, using the station's robotic arm.