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June 15, 2008 Updated

Space Shuttle "Discovery" returns home
Great job, Astronaut Hoshide!

The Space Shuttle "Discovery" with Astronaut Hoshide onboard landed at NASA Kennedy Space Center at 0:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 15 (Japan Standard Time.)
All its missions including the assembly of the Kibo, Japanese Experiment Module, Pressurized Module and Robotic Arm, and the moving of its Experiment Logistic Module Pressurized Section, were successfully completed.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all those who have been watching SPACE@NAVI-Kibo and sent us supportive messages.
The full-scale operation of the Kibo will shortly begin. Your supportive messages to Astronaut Hoshide and the Tsukuba Space Center Kibo Control Center are always welcomed.
(Photo provided by NASA)

June 12, 2008 Updated

Discovery separated from the ISS
Scheduled to come home at 0:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 15 (JST)

The Space Shuttle "Discovery," with Japanese Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide onboard, separated from the International Space Station (ISS) at 8:42 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11 (Japan Standard Time), after having successfully completed the assembly task of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo."

The Discovery will prepare for re-entry and return to the Earth. It is scheduled to land on Earth at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at 0:15 a.m. (JST) on Sunday (June 15).

SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE will have a live broadcast of the return from 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, through the Internet and a mobile phone service. Please watch SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE on the Saturday night!

We welcome your supportive messages for a safe return for Astronaut Hoshide.
(Photo provided by NASA)

June 10, 2008 Updated

Robotic Arm fully deployed!
Entry made to the Experiment Logistic Module Pressurized Section!

At 10:31 p.m. on Monday, June 9 (Japan Standard Time,) the tenth day of the flight, the Robotic Arm of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" was fully deployed. The Kibo Experiment Logistic Module Pressurized Section, which was moved on the 7th (Sat.), was also fully prepared for use, and Astronaut Hoshide and other crew members entered it at 3:21 on the 10th (Tuesday, JST.) Early in the morning on the same day (JST), a press conference was held from the Kibo Pressurized Module for American and Japanese media on Earth.

The next live report on the Internet and through the mobile phone service SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE will be the return of the Space Shuttle "Discovery" from 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14. Please watch the JAXA website on Saturday night!

We will continue to accept supportive messages for Astronaut Hoshide and the Kibo's ground operation team.
(Photo provided by NASA)

June 8, 2008 Updated

Astronaut Hoshide talks with Prime Minister Fukuda and Minister Tokai

At 1:38 a.m. on Sunday, June 8 (Japan Standard Time,) the 8th day of the flight, Astronaut Hoshide performed the initial deployment of the Kibo robotic arm by controlling it through the console for the Robotic Arm in the Kibo pressurized Module. The arm was partially deployed.

At 8:00 a.m. (JST,) Astronaut Hoshide and Commander Kelly spoke from the International Space Station with Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda, Minister Tokai of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan, and US Ambassador Thomas Schieffer, who were at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Tokyo.) The astronauts also communicated with students from Futago Tamagawa Elementary School and Meikei Gakuen Junior High School, from which Astronaut Hoshide graduated. JAXA Astronaut Mamoru Mohri worked as a facilitator for communications.

The next live report through the Internet and mobile phone service will be between 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, and 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 15 (JST) on SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE to broadcast the return of the Space Shuttle "Discovery."

Don't miss it!
(Photo provided by NASA)

June 7, 2008 Updated

Kibo Experimental Logistic Module Pressurized Section attached to Pressurized Module

The Experimental Logistic Module Pressurized Section of the Kibo, which was delivered and temporarily attached to the Harmony (the second node) of the International Space Station (ISS) by Astronaut Doi on the J/A mission, was detached at 4:15 on Saturday, June 7 (Japan Standard Time,) the seventh day of the flight. It was then attached to its final position, to the Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) on top of the Kibo Pressurized Module, at 6:17 (JST). Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide was in charge of controlling the CBM with Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff for both the detachment and attachment.

On the 10th day of the flight, the crew will open the hatch and enter the Pressurized Module again.

On Sunday (June 8, JST,) Kibo’s robotic arm will be deployed for the first time.
SPACE?NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE will broadcast a live report from 0:30 a.m. on the 8th (Sun) through the Internet and their mobile phone service. Please watch it.
(Photo provided by NASA)

June 5, 2008 Updated

Welcome to the Kibo Pressurized Module!
Astronaut Hoshide enters lab

At 6:09 on Thursday, June 5 (Japan Standard Time), the fifth day of the flight, the hatch of the Kibo Pressurized Module was opened, and Astronaut Hoshide and other crew members entered it by going through a curtain that says "Kibo" in Japanese.

On Saturday, June 7 (JST,) the Experiment Logistic Module Pressurized Section of the Kibo, which was delivered and temporarily attached to the ISS by Astronaut Doi on the J/A mission, will be moved from the current position on the Harmony to on top of the Pressurized Module.
SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE will broadcast a live report from 4:00 a.m. on the 7th (Sat) through the Internet and their mobile phone service. Please watch it.
(Photo provided by NASA)

June 4, 2008 Updated

Kibo Pressurized Module successfully attached to ISS!

At 5:49 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4 (JST,) the fourth day of the flight, Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide retrieved the Kibo Pressurized Module from Discovery's cargo bay by manipulating the robotic arm (SSRMS) of the International Space Station (ISS.) Then, at 8:42 (JST,) the Kibo Pressurized Module was successfully installed on the port side of the Harmony node (the second node) of the ISS.

On Thursday, June 5 (JST,) electric power will be turned on in the Kibo Pressurized Module, and Astronaut Hoshide and other crew members will enter the Module. SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE will broadcast a live report from 5:00 a.m. through the Internet and the mobile phone service. Please watch it.
(Photo provided by NASA)

June 3, 2008 Updated

Discovery docks with the ISS

The Space Shuttle "Discovery," with the Pressurized Module and Robotic Arm of the Japan Experiment Module "Kibo" aboard, successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 3:03 a.m. on June 3 (Japan Standard Time) over the South Pacific Ocean. At 4:36 a.m. (JST), the hatch was opened and the Discovery crew on mission STS-124/J1, including Astronaut Hoshide, entered the ISS.

Early on Wednesday morning, June 4 (JST,) Astronaut Hoshide will manipulate the ISS's Robotic Arm (SSRMS) to attach the Kibo Pressurized Module to the ISS. This operation will be reported live from 5:30 a.m. through the Internet and a mobile phone service by SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE.
Let's watch it together!
(Photo provided by NASA)

June 1, 2008 Updated

Have a nice trip, Astronaut Hoshide! Discovery launched with Kibo's Pressurized Module

The Space Shuttle "Discovery," with Astronaut Hoshide onboard, was launched from the Kennedy Space Center at 6:02 a.m. on Sunday, June 1 (Japan Standard Time). This STS-124/J1 mission will deliver the Pressurized Module and Robotic Arm of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo."
The mission includes many programs such as docking with the International Space Station (ISS), attaching the Kibo's modules to the ISS, and moving the Experiment Logistics Module - Pressurized Section, which was delivered to the ISS through 1J/A mission.
SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE will broadcast a live report of the above events through the Internet as well as through a mobile phone service. We will also provide a replay so you never have to miss anything.
Your support messages to Astronaut Hoshide are also welcomed!
The next live report is around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3 (JST,) to report the docking of the Discovery with the ISS. It will cover the moment of the Discovery crew entering the ISS.
(Photo provided by NASA)