March 26, 2007 Updated
Astronaut Hoshide selected as Space Shuttle crewmember
JAXA Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide was selected as a crewmember for the second Space Shuttle mission to assemble the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" (STS-124/1J.) He is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station (ISS) on the Space Shuttle Atlantis with the Kibo Pressurized Module in early 2008. He will stay at the ISS for about two weeks.Following this selection, three Japanese astronauts are currently scheduled to fly on space shuttles, namely Astronaut Takao Doi on STS-123 (with Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki as a crew support astronaut,) Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide on STS-124, and Astronaut Koichi Wakata (with Astronaut Soichi Noguchi as a backup crewmember) to stay at the ISS for a prolonged period.
March 13, 2007 Updated
ELM Pressurized Section of "Kibo" arrives in the US
The Experiment Logistics Module (ELM) Pressurized Section of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" arrived at Port Canaveral adjacent to NASA Kennedy Space Center. The Kibo is scheduled to be connected with the International Space Station.The ELM Pressurized Section will be transported to the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) at the Kennedy Space Center to be ready for launch.
The ELM Pressurized Section will be launched by the first Space Shuttle mission, which Astronaut Takao Doi will be aboard, for the assembly of the "Kibo."
March 1, 2007 Updated
Space Exploration Symposium
A "Space Exploration Symposium" will be held in Kyoto on March 6 and 7.The symposium will discuss the future of space exploration and will invite domestic and international specialists to participate. The heads of JAXA, NASA and ESA will give keynote lectures on their current space exploration projects. This is a good opportunity to catch up with the latest information on global space exploration projects. (Participants are required to register by the morning of March 5.)At the same time, models of the HAYABUSA, the International Space Station, and HTV, and a space suit and food will be on display (no pre-registration is required for the exhibition.)
This is the dawn of a great exploration era for our Solar System.