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Japan Vies to Supply Space Station Vehicle ; HTV Could Be Much Needed Boost for Program

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 February 2005, 15:00 CST

TOKYO - After a low-key start eight years ago, the development of the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is gaining more attention as the United States considers it a potential support vehicle for the International Space Station, expected to be launched before 2010.

The United States, which is responsible for International Space Station logistic support, has relied on Russian spacecraft since U.S. space shuttles were grounded in the wake of the Columbia disaster in February 2003.

The space shuttle will resume flights in May, but the shuttle program is scheduled to end shortly after the launch of the International Space Station, which is under construction.

The United States has recommended the HTV, Russia's Progress and the European Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) as possible alternatives for delivery of supplies and other logistic support to the manned international station.

U.S., Canadian, Russian, Japanese and European officials met in Canada last week to discuss logistical support for the International Space Station, and agreed to a U.S. proposal in which the U.S. government will commission private firms to supply support craft. The private firms will select and purchase the spacecraft.

The news has been welcomed by the public and private sectors in Japan because it means the HTV is likely to become profitable. "It means business. We can expect sales of 30 to 50 HTVs," an official said.

Education, Science and Technology Ministry officials were more cautious, saying they expect only a few HTVs to be purchased by U.S. firms.

No matter which prediction proves correct, the possibility that the HTV is to be highly rated internationally and is also to make a profit is long-awaited good news for Japan's space program, which has been marred by technical failures and accidents.

Ironically, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's expectations were not as great as in 1997 when development of the HTV began.

Greater resources and attention were devoted to the H-IIA rocket ahead of the HTV, which will be launched on the rocket and then shift orbits in space.

Now that it has potential to make a large profit from U.S. firms, there is talk in the government that it should allocate a greater budget and resources to HTV development. Officials argue that beyond the potential deal, HTV technology can be applied to future space exploration.

Some officials even argue that HTV development should be listed as a principal project in the third phase of the Science and Technology Basic Plan that will begin in fiscal 2006.

But the HTV is still only in the development phase.

The first HTV flight is scheduled to take place in fiscal 2008. To meet U.S. rules for inclusion in the International Space Station support craft bidding, all testing must be completed by June 2009.

To meet the deadline, private investors involved in HTV development have demanded the government sharply increase the budget to allow development to be completed and launch testing to begin two years ahead of schedule.

Source: Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.

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