HTV approach

ISS020-E-041288 (17 Sept. 2009) --- Backdropped by Earth’s horizon and the blackness of space, the unpiloted Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) approaches the International Space Station. Once the HTV was in range, NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk and European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne, all Expedition 20 flight engineers, used the station’s robotic arm to grab the cargo craft and attach it to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony node. The attachment was completed at 5:26 (CDT) on Sept. 17, 2009. The Japanese Kibo complex (top right) and the Canadarm2 (bottom right) are also visible in the image.