Japan launches rocket carrying vessel for Int'l Space Station

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. launched a rocket with an unmanned spacecraft bound for the International Space Station on Wednesday after a fire thwarted its launch plans earlier this month.The H-2B rocket carrying the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's supply vessel Kounotori8 was launched at around 1:05 a.m. from Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan.The vessel, named after the Japanese word for "white stork," will deliver about 5.3 tons of supplies to astronauts at the International Space Station, including food and water as well as batteries and device…READ FULL ARTICLE