The crew of Expedition 36 released Japan's H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-4) shortly after noon eastern time.

HTV-4 will manoeuvre to a safe distance where Japanese flight controllers will take over and safely guide the craft into a deorbit on Saturday.

The craft, now loaded with rubbish will burn up as it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean.

Known in Japanese as the "white stork" the craft symbolised the special delivery of needed materials for the ISS.

With the Japanese transfer vehicle moving away from the space station, the company, Orbital Sciences will begin commercial space vehicle demonstration procedures.

The vehicle will launch on September 17th as part of Nasa's transfer to commercial transportation services.

The mission is designed to demonstrate the space craft's rendezvous and berthing capabilities with the space station.

Source: APTN

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Space station crew launch cargo ship full of rubbish