{"id":316321,"date":"2026-03-06T17:40:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T17:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/316321\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T17:40:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T17:40:10","slug":"watch-japans-1st-htv-x-cargo-craft-leave-the-international-space-station-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/316321\/","title":{"rendered":"Watch Japan&#8217;s 1st HTV-X cargo craft leave the International Space Station today"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>JAXA HTV-X1 Cargo Departure &#8211; YouTube<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772818809_969_maxresdefault.jpg\" alt=\"JAXA HTV-X1 Cargo Departure - YouTube\" data-aspect-ratio=\"16\/9\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"watch-on-youtube-iUNm9iv7sAg\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/iUNm9iv7sAg\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/iUNm9iv7sAg\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Watch On <\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"8c08de51-1a05-4409-8809-1186cacc2136\">Japan&#8217;s new HTV-X cargo spacecraft will depart the International Space Station today (March 6) after a four-month stay, and you can watch the action live.<\/p>\n<p>The vehicle \u2014 known as HTV-X1, because it&#8217;s the first of its kind \u2014 is scheduled to be released by the station&#8217;s <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/iss-canadarm2-robot-arm-canada-50th-spacecraft-catch\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/iss-canadarm2-robot-arm-canada-50th-spacecraft-catch\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/iss-canadarm2-robot-arm-canada-50th-spacecraft-catch\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Canadarm2<\/a> robotic arm today at 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT).<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">You can watch it live here at Space.com courtesy of NASA, or <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iUNm9iv7sAg\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iUNm9iv7sAg\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">directly via the space agency<\/a>. Coverage will begin at 11:45 a.m. EST (1645 GMT).<\/p>\n<p>            You may like<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.15%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SggHFFxetG7n65T6UvUXB5.jpg\" alt=\"closeup of a golden cylindrical spacecraft with earth in the background\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SggHFFxetG7n65T6UvUXB5.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SggHFFxetG7n65T6UvUXB5.jpg\" class=\"inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>Japan\u2019s new HTV\u2011X1 cargo spacecraft, carrying science, supplies and hardware for NASA and its international partners, is pictured on Oct. 29, 2025, after its capture by the International Space Station\u2019s Canadarm2 robotic arm. (Image credit: NASA)<\/p>\n<p id=\"874f558c-1e78-4e60-ab1c-c05257232d22\">The robotic HTV-X is the successor to Japan&#8217;s H-II Transfer Vehicle (<a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/japanese-htv-cargo-ship-final-launch-success.html\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/japanese-htv-cargo-ship-final-launch-success.html\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/japanese-htv-cargo-ship-final-launch-success.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">HTV<\/a>), which flew nine cargo missions to the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/16748-international-space-station.html\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/16748-international-space-station.html\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/16748-international-space-station.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">International Space Station<\/a> (ISS) from 2009 to 2020.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"874f558c-1e78-4e60-ab1c-c05257232d22-1\">The new freighter launched for the first time <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft\/watch-japans-advanced-new-cargo-spacecraft-launch-to-the-iss-for-the-1st-time-today\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft\/watch-japans-advanced-new-cargo-spacecraft-launch-to-the-iss-for-the-1st-time-today\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft\/watch-japans-advanced-new-cargo-spacecraft-launch-to-the-iss-for-the-1st-time-today\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">on Oct. 25<\/a>, carrying about 9,000 pounds (4,080 kilograms) of food and other supplies to the orbiting lab. <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/international-space-station\/japan-htv-x-cargo-spacecraft-first-arrival-international-space-station\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/international-space-station\/japan-htv-x-cargo-spacecraft-first-arrival-international-space-station\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/international-space-station\/japan-htv-x-cargo-spacecraft-first-arrival-international-space-station\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">On Oct. 28<\/a>, HTV-X1 reached its destination, where it was grappled by Canadarm2 and affixed to the station&#8217;s Harmony module.<\/p>\n<p>The arm removed the vehicle from the module on Thursday (March 5), then began positioning it for today&#8217;s planned release.<\/p>\n<p>HTV-X1 will stay up for a while after that happens.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!<\/p>\n<p id=\"3ff0765a-8ecf-42ac-a498-96f1120f8186\">&#8220;The HTV-X1 spacecraft will remain in orbit for more than three months acting as a scientific platform for JAXA\u2019s experiments,&#8221; NASA officials said in an update on Monday (March 2), referring to the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/22672-japan-aerospace-exploration-agency.html\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/22672-japan-aerospace-exploration-agency.html\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/22672-japan-aerospace-exploration-agency.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Following the deorbit command, the spacecraft will dispose of several thousand pounds of trash during reentry into <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/17683-earth-atmosphere.html\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/17683-earth-atmosphere.html\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/17683-earth-atmosphere.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Earth&#8217;s atmosphere<\/a>, where it will burn up harmlessly,&#8221; they added.<\/p>\n<p>Three other freighters haul cargo up to the ISS these days as well \u2014 Russia&#8217;s <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/32645-progress-spacecraft.html\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/32645-progress-spacecraft.html\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/32645-progress-spacecraft.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Progress<\/a> vehicle, Northrop Grumman&#8217;s <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/cygnus-spacecraft.html\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/cygnus-spacecraft.html\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/cygnus-spacecraft.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cygnus<\/a>, and Dragon, which is built by <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/18853-spacex.html\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/18853-spacex.html\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/18853-spacex.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SpaceX<\/a>. Dragon is the only one that&#8217;s reusable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JAXA HTV-X1 Cargo Departure &#8211; YouTube Watch On Japan&#8217;s new HTV-X cargo spacecraft will depart the International Space&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":316322,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[111,139,69,147,392],"class_list":["post-316321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-space","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-science","tag-space"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/316322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}