Spaceflight Now Home





HTV 2 rendezvous timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: January 26, 2011

NOTE: GMT is 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Times are subject to change.

Jan. 27 Height Adjustment Maneuver 0
0220 GMT - A height adjustment maneuver, called HAM 0, will raise the HTV's altitude by changing the ship's velocity by 2.4 meters per second, or 5 mph. This burn puts the spacecraft in an orbit about 5 kilometers, or 3 miles, below the International Space Station.
Jan. 27 Establish Proximity Communications
The HTV establishes a proximity communications link with the space station when it passes within about 23 kilometers, or 14.3 miles, of the complex.
Jan. 27 Height Adjustment Maneuver 2
0522 GMT - Another major rendezvous maneuver will place the HTV about 5 kilometers, or 3 miles, behind the space station on the minus V-bar.
Jan. 27 Approach Initiation Point
0825 GMT - The HTV departs the approach initiation point about 5 kilometers, or 3.1 miles, behind the space station. This is the starting point for the final rendezvous and approach sequence. The HTV will fly to a rendezvous insertion point around 500 meters, or 1,640 feet, directly below the station along the minus R-bar.
Jan. 27 Rendezvous Insertion Point
0928 GMT - The HTV arrives at the rendezvous insertion point about 500 meters, or 1,640 feet, directly below the station along the minus R-bar. The ship will soon switch navigation sources from relative GPS to a rendezvous laser radar for the final approach.
Jan. 27 250 Meter Hold Point Arrival
0949 GMT - Arriving at a programmed hold point 250 meters, or about 820 feet, below the station, the HTV pauses to conduct a "yaw around" maneuver position the ship for potential contingency abort maneuvers.

After about 30 minutes of stationkeeping, the HTV resumes its approach to the station.

Jan. 27 250 Meter Hold Point Departure
1019 GMT - After ground controllers analyze its health and performance, the HTV leaves the hold point to continue its approach to the station.
Jan. 27 30 Meter Hold Point Arrival
1048 GMT - The HTV stops at a point 30 meters, or 98 feet, below the space station. This is the final hold point to check the spacecraft's alignment and systems before entering the capture box.
Jan. 27 Sunrise
1103 GMT - The International Space Station moves into the daylight portion of its orbit.
Jan. 27 30 Meter Hold Point Departure
1108 GMT - Flight controllers instruct the HTV to leave the 30 meter point and fly to a capture box about 9 meters, or 30 feet, below the space station's Kibo laboratory module.
Jan. 27 Capture Point
1129 GMT - The HTV reaches a capture box about 9 meters, or 30 feet, directly below the station.
Jan. 27 Capture
1144 GMT - The station's robot arm, operated by astronaut Cady Coleman, grapples the HTV as the craft hovers about 9 meters, or 30 feet, below the complex's Kibo module.
Jan. 27 Sunset
1201 GMT - The International Space Station moves into the night portion of its orbit.

Data Source: JAXA and NASA

MISSION STATUS CENTER