HTV-4 En Route to International Space Station

Japan’s fourth cargo supply vessel is on its way to the International Space Station following a nominal launch.

As reported by NASA:

The fourth Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) H-II Transfer Vehicle, or HTV-4, launched aboard an H-IIB launch vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan at 3:48 p.m. EDT  Saturday (4:48 a.m. Sunday, Japan time) to begin a weeklong journey to the International Space Station. Also known as Kounotori, or “white stork,” because it is emblematic of an important delivery, HTV-4 is carrying more than 3.5 tons of supplies, food  and experiment hardware for the station’s Expedition 36 crew.  At the time of launch, the station was flying 260 statute miles over southwest Russia near the border of Kazakhstan.

Read more about the launch and its upcoming August 9 rendezvous with ISS here. Below, a video of the launch.