Japan has sent a new unmanned cargo spacecraft HTV-X to the International Space Station (ISS), reports Kyodo.
The ship was launched from the Tanegashima launch site using an H3 launch vehicle. HTV-X is equipped with a new power system and is capable of transporting experimental samples that require low temperatures.
The ship is expected to reach the ISS on October 30, stay on the station for six months, and then spend three months in orbit for testing.
According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), HTV-X can carry about 6 tons of cargo, which is 1.5 times greater than the capabilities of its predecessor, the Kounotori ship.