Christmas gifts arrive at space station, courtesy of Japan
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Japan’s H-IIB rocket with a capsule called Kounotori, or stork, lifts off at the Tanegashima Space Center in Tanegashima, southern Japan, Friday evening, Dec. 9, 2016. The Japanese capsule contains nearly 5 tons of food, water and other supplies, including new lithium-ion batteries for the International Space Station’s solar power system.
Cape Canaveral, Fla. >> Christmas gifts have arrived at the International Space Station, courtesy of Japan.
A Japanese cargo ship pulled up at the orbiting lab Tuesday, four days after launching. The capsule — called Kounotori, or white stork — contains nearly 5 tons of food, water, batteries and other supplies. NASA says there also are Christmas presents for the two Americans, three Russians and one Frenchman on board.
Barely two weeks ago, a Russian supply ship was destroyed shortly after liftoff. At the same time, one of NASA’s main suppliers, SpaceX, is grounded. So the Japanese delivery is especially welcome.
The astronauts need the six new lithium-ion batteries for next month’s spacewalks. They will replace the old nickel-hydrogen batteries that store energy generated by the station’s big solar panels.
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Online:
NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
6 responses to “Christmas gifts arrive at space station, courtesy of Japan”
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Developing missile technology? Yet the UN and we demand North Korea to cease and desist on missile testing?
If you worry about such things, it’s been conservatively estimated that given sufficient provocation, the Japanese could develop and field nuclear weapons within two months. Of course, this would entail a crash program, but given the Japanese have more than enough long-range aircraft and proven rocket technology, a warhead delivery system for them is practically “off the shelf.”
A most wonderful gesture by the Japanese to support Earth’s International Space Station and the cooperative scientific effort that it symbolizes. Coming at a time time of year when hope is renewed, it unites all of us in a common mission — peace and good will to all.
How advanced. Hopefully we can igure out how to help save our dying Ohia forests.
To Japan; Domo arigato!
SpaceX and Teslas are both exploding.