posted 03-11-2021 05:27 PM               

Today's [March 11, 2021] ROBO team released the HTV-9 Exposed Pallet with old space station batteries using Canadarm2 and magic of orbital mechanics! The Exposed Pallet had been on ISS for a while. Will burn up in atmosphere in 2-4 years!

From Jonathan McDowell (via Twitter):

EP9, the external pallet from the HTV-9 cargo ship, was jettisoned from the ISS by the Canadarm-2 robot arm today, March 11. With nine old batteries attached, it has a mass of about 2430 kg [5360 lbs].

This is the most massive object jettisoned from ISS to date. I believe the previous record was held by the 640 kg [1410 lbs] Early Ammonia Servicer thrown overboard in July 2007. The EP9 will be in orbit for several years before reentry.

posted 03-11-2021 09:30 PM               

Crew Dragon Resilience watched as NASA ground controllers released a pallet that will eventually burn up in the atmosphere.

posted 03-12-2021 07:08 AM            

The final HTV pallet was released from ISS, and flew over Galapagos island!

posted 03-18-2021 04:06 PM            

The ISS was orbiting 260 miles above the Pacific Ocean west of central America at the time this photograph was taken.

The ISS was orbiting 265 miles above the north coast of Chile in South America at the time this photograph was taken.