August 24, 2005 Updated
OICETS / INDEX successfully launched, the nicknames are the "Kirari" and "Reimei"
The Dnepr Launch Vehicle, which was launched at 6:10 a.m. on August 24, 2005, (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan, flew normally, and separated the Optical Inter-orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (OICETS) and the Innovative Technology Demonstration Experiment Satellite (INDEX) about 15 minutes after liftoff. The nickname of the OICETS is the "Kirari", and that of the INDEX is "Reimei".
We would like to express our appreciation for cooperation and support from all related personnel and organizations that helped contribute to this successful launch.
-"KIRARI" OICETS
-"REIMEI" INDEX
August 16, 2005 Updated
Hayabusa probe photographs asteroid ITOKAWA
The asteroid probe Hayabusa, which was launched on May 9, 2003, from the Uchinoura Space Center, captured a photograph of the small asteroid "ITOKAWA". An image was taken by an onboard camera called the "Star Tracker" for attitude control. Although the image consisted of only a few pixels, it contributed to the final orbit correction in the final phase of a 27-month long space journey. During the trip, the Hayabusa used the earth's gravity in a fly-by and an ion engine.The relative distance between the ITOKAWA and the Hayabusa is about 35,000 km, which is about the same distance as the altitude of an earth geostationary orbit (as of Aug. 12.) In other words, it is located about 340 million km away from the earth with the sun in-between, or a radio wave from the earth takes about 40 minutes for a round trip. The observation team is planning for Hayabusa's arrival at ITOKAWA in mid September.
Hayabusa performed the Star Tracker imaging of Itokawa!
HAYABUSA
August 9, 2005 Updated
Discovery returned safely
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) advised that the Space Shuttle Discovery with Astronaut Noguchi onboard successfully landed at 9:11 p.m. on August 9, Japan Standard Time (JST), at the substitute landing site of Edwards Air Force Base in California, U.S.A., to complete its mission in 13 days, 21 hours and 32 minutes. STS-114 Status Report (NASA)
NASA TV program
STS-114
Return to Flight (NASA)
August 8, 2005 Updated
Discovery landing delayed for one day
The landing of the Space Shuttle Discovery with Japanese astronaut Noguchi onboard was delayed for one day due to bad weather.The new landing schedule at the Kennedy Space Center is at 6:07 p.m. on Aug. 9 (Tuesday), Japan Standard Time.
STS-114 Status Report (NASA)
NASA TV program
STS-114
Return to Flight (NASA)
August 7, 2005 Updated
Discovery comes home on Aug. 8 (Monday)
Crewmembers of the Discovery made their farewells to the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) at 1:36 p.m. on Aug. 6, Japan standard Time (JST), and detached the Shuttle from the ISS at 4:24 p.m. on the same day (JST) over the South Pacific Ocean just west of Chile.The Discovery is scheduled to leave its orbit at 4:40 p.m. on Aug. 8 (JST), and return to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 5:46 p.m. on the same day.
STS-114 Status Report (NASA)
NASA TV program
STS-114
Return to Flight (NASA)
August 5, 2005 Updated
Answering a VIP call from Prime Minister Koizumi
On Aug. 4 (Japan Standard Time, JST), a "VIP call" was held for 20 minutes from 6:19 p.m. (JST) by connecting the Prime Minister's official residence to the studio in the American module "Destiny" on the ISS. Prime Minister Koizumi praised Commander Collins as a "super woman with courage and talent", and talked to Astronaut Noguchi. "I feel like a very close friend of you as I see you on TV every day," said the prime minister. He then asked, "Is the earth really blue?", "how were the Chinese noodles?", and "how do you feel flying at a speed of 28,000km/hour?"Astronaut Mouri worked as a facilitator during the call, and Minister Nakayama of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology and junior high school students also participated and talked to Astronaut Noguchi. During the 20 minutes, the ISS moved over Sydney pass the South Pacific Ocean to the Republic of Ecuador.
STS-114 Status Report (NASA)
NASA TV program
STS-114
Return to Flight (NASA)
August 5, 2005 Updated
Discovery will return on Aug. 8
NASA decided to return the Discovery back to earth without conducting a fourth extravehicular activity to fix a thermal blanket near the commander's left window because NASA determined that the risk was minimal. The Discovery is scheduled to be detached from the ISS on the 6th, re-enter the atmosphere on the evening of the 8th, and land at 5:46 p.m. on the 8th (all dates and times are Japan Standard Time.) It will land at Kennedy Space Center in Florida unless the weather forces a change.August 4, 2005 Updated
The third extravehicular activity was successfully completed
During the third extravehicular activity of the STS-114 mission, two protruding gap fillers were successfully removed with the "precision of a surgical operation." Astronaut Noguchi went out into space with Astronaut Robinson to support his operations.STS-114 Status Report (NASA)
NASA TV program
STS-114
Return to Flight (NASA)
August 3, 2005 Updated
In-orbit press conference and the third extravehicular activity
On Aug. 2, Day 8 of the STS-114 mission, seven crewmembers and two ISS long-stay astronauts had a joint in-orbit press conference, and part of it was done in Japanese. President Bush also expressed his appreciation to the crewmembers and sent words of encouragement to Japanese, Australian and Russian crewmembers on the phone.On Aug. 3, the third extravehicular activity started at 5:14 p.m., and the astronauts continue to work on the two protruding gap fillers from the tiles on the bottom of the Discovery.
STS-114 Status Report (NASA)
NASA TV program
STS-114
Return to Flight (NASA)
August 2, 2005 Updated
Astronaut Noguchi carries out spacewalk to replace ISS part
On Day 7 of the flight, Astronaut Noguchi carried out the second extravehicular activity.The purpose of the spacewalk this time was to replace the gyroscope (attitude control equipment) on the International Space Station (ISS). With his partner, Astronaut Robinson, they successfully completed the replacement.
STS-114 Status Report (NASA)
NASA TV program
STS-114
Return to Flight (NASA)
August 1, 2005 Updated
Astronaut Noguchi's second extravehicular activity
The STS-114 mission is now in its middle phase. On Day 6 of the flight, Astronaut Noguchi prepared the tools for the second extravehicular activity and held an interview with the media in America along with the other crewmembers.The second extravehicular activity started at around 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 1.
STS-114 Status Report (NASA)
NASA TV program
STS-114
Return to Flight (NASA)