October 30, 2025 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

 HTV-X1 began its final approach to the International Space Station (ISS) and was captured by the ISS robotic arm, Canadarm2, at 0:58 on October 30 (JST). Following this, HTV-X1 was successfully berthed to the ISS at 20:10 on October 30 (JST). The Canadarm2 was operated by JAXA astronaut YUI Kimiya, currently serving on a long-duration mission aboard the ISS, in coordination with ground control teams.

 After berthing, both the internal and external cargo will be gradually transferred to the ISS.

Reference links for further information:
https://humans-in-space.jaxa.jp/en/htv-x/

 The HTV-X1, launched abord the H3 Launch Vehicle No.7 from the Tanegashima Space Center on October 26, 2025 (JST), has successfully berthed with the International Space Station (ISS) as scheduled.

 During the berthing operation, JAXA astronaut YUI Kimiya, currently serving aboard the ISS, successfully captured the HTV-X1 using the station’s Canadian robotic arm, in close coordination with the flight control teams at the Tsukuba Space Center and NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston.

 HTV-X1 carries a wide variety of cargo, including the Demonstration System for CO₂ Removal (DRCS) for future human space exploration, experimental materials for the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo”, and daily necessities and fresh food essential for astronauts’ lives on orbit.

 Building on the heritage of nine successful KOUNOTORI (HTV) missions, HTV-X1 demonstrates a more efficient and flexible cargo transportation capability, achieving one of the heaviest cargo deliveries in the world among space station resupply vehicles. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of everyone involved in its development and the precise operations of the mission control teams, HTV-X1 has successfully delivered its supplies to the ISS, meeting the expectations of our international partners. I am extremely proud of this achievement.

 In addition, HTV-X introduces new post-ISS mission capabilities, serving as a technology demonstration platform after its departure from the Station. On its first flight, several in-orbit demonstrations are planned, including:

● H-SSOD (deployment of small satellites),

● Mt. FUJI (laser-based attitude measurement experiment),

● DELIGHT (in-orbit demonstration of deployable lightweight planar antenna)

● SDX (in-orbit demonstration of next-generation solar cells)

 With the successful cargo delivery to the ISS by HTV-X1, Japan has entered a new chapter in next generation space transportation and exploration. JAXA will continue to ensure the safe and reliable operation of HTV-X1 through its unberthing, technology demonstrations, and atmospheric reentry.