Editing H-II Transfer Vehicle (section)

{{short description|Uncrewed cargo spacecraft developed by JAXA}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox spacecraft class
| name = H-II Transfer Vehicle<br>Kounotori
| image = Iss020e0413802 - cropped.jpg
| image_caption = H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-1) approaching the ISS
| country = Japan
| operator = [[JAXA]]
| applications = [[Uncrewed spaceflights to the International Space Station|ISS resupply]]
| spacecraft_type = [[Uncrewed spacecraft|Uncrewed cargo vehicle]]
| launch_mass = {{cvt|16500|kg}}<ref name="KOUNOTORI2"/>
| dry_mass = {{cvt|10500|kg}}<ref name="jaxa2007"/>
| volume = '''Pressurized''': {{cvt|14|m3}}
| length = ~{{cvt|9.8|m}} (including thrusters)
| diameter = {{cvt|4.4|m}}<ref name="jaxa2007"/>
| capacities = {{Infobox rocket/payload
  |location        = [[International Space Station|ISS]]
  |kilos           = {{cvt|6000|-|6200|kg}}<ref name="KOUNOTORI2">{{cite web|url=http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/h2bf2/overview/htv_e.html|title=Overview of the "KOUNOTORI" |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115022444/http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/h2bf2/overview/htv_e.html|archive-date=15 November 2010|work=[[JAXA]]|access-date=18 January 2011}}</ref><ref name="jaxa20150731">{{cite web|url=http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu2/060/shiryo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2015/11/02/1359727_6.pdf|script-title=ja:「こうのとり」（HTV）5号機の搭載物変更について |date=31 July 2015|access-date=17 December 2015|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222104032/http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/gijyutu/gijyutu2/060/shiryo/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2015/11/02/1359727_6.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2015}}</ref>
 }}
| status = Retired
| built = 9
| orders = 
| launched = 9
| operational = 
| retired = 
| first = 10 September 2009 ([[HTV-1]])
| last = 20 May 2020 ([[Kounotori 9]])
| lastretired = 
| derivatives = [[HTV-X]]
| previous = 
}}


The '''H-II Transfer Vehicle''' ('''HTV'''), also called {{nihongo|'''Kounotori'''|こうのとり|Kōnotori|extra="[[oriental stork]]" or "[[white stork]]"}}, is an [[Expendable launch system|expendable]] Japanese [[Cargo spacecraft|automated cargo spacecraft]] designed for [[International Space Station]] (ISS) resupply missions, particularly the [[Kibo (ISS module)|''Kibō'' Japanese Experiment Module]] (JEM). 

Development of the spacecraft began in the early 1990s and the HTV's first mission, [[HTV-1]], was launched on 10{{Nbsp}}September 2009 on an [[H-IIB]] launch vehicle.<ref>{{cite web |title=NASA Sets Briefing, TV Coverage of Japan's First Cargo Spacecraft |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/aug/HQ_M09-164_HTV_Briefing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417014822/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/aug/HQ_M09-164_HTV_Briefing.html |archive-date=2011-04-17 |access-date=2009-09-03 |publisher=NASA}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The name ''Kounotori'' was chosen because "a white stork carries an image of conveying an important thing (a baby, happiness, and other joyful things), therefore, it precisely expresses the HTV's mission to transport essential materials to the ISS".<ref>{{cite web |date=11 November 2010 |title="KOUNOTORI" Chosen as Nickname of the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) |url=http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/11/20101111_kounotori_e.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222201702/http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/11/20101111_kounotori_e.html |archive-date=22 December 2010 |access-date=11 November 2010 |publisher=JAXA}}</ref>

The HTV is crucial for ISS resupply, especially after the [[retirement of the Space Shuttle]], as it's the only vehicle capable of transporting large [[International Standard Payload Rack]]s (ISPR) and disposing of old ones within the ISS's [[US Orbital Segment]].

The final HTV mission, [[Kounotori 9]], was launched on 20 May 2020. JAXA is currently developing its successor, the [[HTV-X]], which is expected to make [[HTV-X1|its maiden flight]] in early 2025.