Oct. 23, 2009 (The Yomiuri Shimbun) -- A new unmanned spacecraft being developed in the United States will employ technology used on the H-2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV), an unpiloted spacecraft developed in Japan, the firm that developed the technology said Thursday.

It will be the first time Japanese technology--in this case the HTV technology, developed by Mitsubishi Electric Corp.--will be used as a U.S. spacecraft's core component. The move can be regarded as proof of the increasing international competitiveness of Japanese technology in the global space market, including satellites, and might help spur sales.

The technology to be adopted is a communication device that allows a spacecraft to safely approach the International Space Station in orbit. Last month, the HTV successfully docked with the ISS, and the technology received high praise.

The U.S. firm that placed the order was Virginia-based Orbital Sciences Corp. (NYSE:ORB) , a private company developing an unmanned spacecraft for the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

From next year until 2014, Mitsubishi Electric will deliver devices for nine Cygnus unmanned spacecraft to Orbital Sciences, at an estimated price tag of 6 billion yen.

The device employs a technology to confirm safe, navigable speed and distance between the ISS and the unmanned spacecraft by automatically exchanging information. The device uses collision-avoidance technology to control a rocket's safe approach to the ISS, which orbits at a speed of 7.7 kilometers per second about 400 kilometers above Earth.

NASA is considering retiring its space shuttles within two years, and is placing orders with two companies, including Orbital Sciences, to develop unmanned spacecraft to be used thereafter to transport cargo.