JAXA completes operations of HTV-X1, first unit of upgraded ISS resupply spacecraft series, after reentry over South Pacific

HTV-X1 launched by H3 rocket in October last year, delivered supplies to the ISS, and completed orbital missions including microsatellite release, deployment tests for lightweight antenna-equipped panels, and next-generation space solar cell trials before reentering the atmosphere late Tuesday Japan time.

HTV-X is an upgraded version of JAXA's nine-flight HTV series (also called Kounotori) and is capable of carrying out post-ISS missions such as experiments and observations at various altitudes for extended periods.

All planned missions succeeded and yielded valuable technological findings, according to JAXA project manager Norimasa Ito. The microsatellite released was Ten-Koh 2, developed by Nihon University; lasers were also fired from Earth to reflectors on the spacecraft to observe its attitude fluctuations.