Tanegashima Space Center
HTV-1 was successfully launched at 17:01:46 UTC on 10 September 2009, to the initial orbit of of perigee, a apogee of , an inclination of 51.69° (planned ± / ± / 51.67° ± 0.15°). The launch took place from the (Yoshinobu Launch Complex (Yoshinobu-2) at the Tanegashima Space Center, and was the first to use the second pad of the complex.