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Canadarm2 Prepares to Release HTV-4

Canadarm2 Prepares to Release HTV-4
The Japanese HTV-4 unmanned cargo spacecraft is backdropped against a land mass on Earth just prior to its release from the orbital outpost.

ISS036-E-039501 (04 Sept. 2013) — One of the Expedition 36 crew members aboard the International Space Station took this picture of the Japanese HTV-4 unmanned cargo spacecraft, backdropped against a land mass on Earth, following its unberthing but just prior to its release from the orbital outpost’s Canadarm2. HTV-4, after backing away from the flying complex, headed for re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, burning upon re-entry. HTV-4 was launched by Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on Aug. 4 of this year in order to bring up supplies for the astronauts and cosmonauts onboard the station.