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Now that JAXA has announced the coming end if the existing HTV cargo carrier for ISS program they're working on the next phase: HTV-R (HTV-Returnable), which would be capable of ISS cargo return instead of being disposable.
Take a close look at the new alternative layout - we've seen this layout before (SpaceX's Dragon)
Makes one wonder if they chose this configuration because it's pretty much shown bootstrap-able into a crewed configuration.
Concept PDF: http://archive.ists.or.jp/upload_pdf/2013-g-16.pdf
HTV-R concept
Capsule concept
Take a close look at the new alternative layout - we've seen this layout before (SpaceX's Dragon)
Makes one wonder if they chose this configuration because it's pretty much shown bootstrap-able into a crewed configuration.
Concept PDF: http://archive.ists.or.jp/upload_pdf/2013-g-16.pdf
HTV-R concept
Capsule concept