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Japan’s first facility for manned space activities
Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo"

The International Space Station Project aims to conduct astronomical observations of Earth and other celestial bodies. It will allow scientists to perform studies and experiments in space by taking advantage of special features unique to the space environment. The Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" consists of two facilities, the Pressurized Module and the Exposed Facility. The Pressurized Module is 11.2 meters long and 4.4 meters in diameter. The Exposed Facility is expected to be used for long-term experiments in open space as well as Earth and astronomical observations. The Exposed Facility is a unique facility among ISS laboratories as it enables astronauts to conduct experiments in direct exposure to space without any modification.
Kibo's docking and assembly operations have been completed as the Pressurized Module was assembled in June 2008, and the Exposed Facility in July 2009. The operation and control of Kibo is being performed from the Control Room at the Tsukuba Space Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We expect Kibo to be a place where scientists conduct experiments and surveys that will help create a better, more hopeful future for our planet.
One of the most important experiments planned for Kibo is the observation of Earth’s environment. Today, Earth is faced with serious environmental problems such as the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming and desertification. Kibo will enable us to study these problems from space, in order to find clues to how to solve them. Scientists will study trace gases that deplete the ozone layer and observe short waves (sub-millimetre waves) emitted by ozone.
Also, the world’s largest wide-angle X-ray camera will be mounted on the platform, to make observations of space, examine the phenomena beyond our galaxy, and refine our map of the distribution of the galaxies.
Microgravity experiments conducted in space will produce larger and more uniformly-sized protein crystals, which will help us understand disease mechanisms and develop new medicines. Kibo will also be the site of studies on the influence of microgravity and radiation on plants, animals and humans, and experiments in robotics, communications, and energy.