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 on 4 September 2013. Credit: NASA

(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. 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.