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July 29, 2009 Updated

The Endeavour left the ISS
Astronaut Wakata scheduled to arrive back on Earth on July 31

Astronaut Koichi Wakata moved to the Space Shuttle "Endeavour," and it was detached from the International Space Station (ISS) at 2:26 a.m. on July 29 (Japan Standard Time.) He vowed his farewells to the ISS, where he stayed for 133 days engaging in various missions including the assembly work of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo."
The Endeavour will prepare for re-entry and return to Earth, and is scheduled to land at the NASA Kennedy Space Center at 11:48 p.m. on July 31 (Fri., JST.) (Image by NASA)

July 27, 2009 Updated

Kibo's ELM Exposed Section retrieved! Count down for Astronaut Wakata to return to Earth

At 10:42 p.m. on July 26 (Japan Standard Time,) the Experiment Logistic Module Exposed Section of the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” was detached from the Exposed Facility to be repacked in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Also on the 26th, Astronaut Wakata, who was in the Kibo, talked with Minister of Space Policy Seiko Noda and Senior Vice Minister Toshio Yamauchi of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, as well as students at the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology, and Astronaut Mamoru Mouri, all of whom were at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. It is now time for Astronaut Wakata to come home. He will move to the Space Shuttle Endeavour between late at night on the 28th and early on the 29th (JST,) then the hatch to the International Space Station (ISS) will be closed for the Endeavour to leave the ISS. (Image by NASA)

July 24, 2009 Updated

Exposed experiment devices moved to the Kibo's Exposed Facility

The Exposed Facility of the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo,” which was attached to the International Space Station (ISS) on the 19th (Japan Standard Time, all the following dates and times are JST) is a laboratory exposed to space to carry out various experiments in the environment of space.
The exposed experiment devices that had been shipped by the Experiment Logistic Module Exposed Section from earth were installed to the Exposed Facility on the 24th. Using the Kibo's robotic arm, three devices were attached to the Exposed Facility: the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) was installed at 0:24 a.m., the Inter-orbit Communication System Exposed Facility Subsystem (ICS-EF) at 3:53 a.m., and the Space Environment Data Acquisition Equipment - Attached Payload (SEDA-AP) at 6:00 a.m. (Image by NASA)

July 22, 2009 Updated

Astronomical show of the century, total solar eclipse, observed from space by IBUKI and HINODE

A total solar eclipse was observed from Japan on July 22 for the first time in 46 years. The Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite "IBUKI" took some images of this astronomical event including a shadow of the moon on the earth. The Solar Physics Satellite "HINODE" also observed the moon crossing in front of the sun.
JAXA, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) carried out the transmission experiment of high definition images of the total solar eclipse from Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima islands using the Wideband Internetworking Engineering Test and Demonstration Satellite "KIZUNA" in cooperation with NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation.)

Photos
Top: The solar eclipse observed by a monitor camera of the IBUKI
Bottom: Images taken by an X-ray telescope of the HINODE (by NAOJ/JAXA)

July 19, 2009 Updated

Kibo Exposed Facility installed! Japanese Experiment Module completed

At 2:58 a.m. on July 19 (JST,) the Kibo's Exposed Facility (EF) was taken out from the payload bay (cargo bay) of the Space Shuttle Endeavour by Astronaut Koichi Wakata manipulating the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS.)
At 8:40 a.m. (JST,) the EF was assembled to the Kibo's Pressurized Module, and at 11:23 a.m. (JST,) it was initially activated by a command sent from the Tsukuba Space Center. Following the activation, the construction of the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo was completed. (Image by NASA)

July 16, 2009 Updated

Space Shuttle Endeavour launched on final Kibo assembly flight

The Space Shuttle "Endeavour" with the Kibo's Exposed Facility (EF) and Experiment Logistic Module (ELM) Exposed Section onboard was launched at 7:03 a.m. on July 16 (Thu. JST, or at 18:03 p.m. on the 15th, EDT) from NASA Kennedy Space Center.
During the 2J/A mission this time, the EF will be attached to the Kibo Pressurized Module to complete the construction of the Kibo's Japanese experiment facility. In addition, the ELM Exposed Section will be assembled to the EF so that exposed experiment devices will be moved and installed onto the EF. Astronaut Koichi Wakata will finally come home to Earth on the Endeavour.
(Image by NASA)

July 14, 2009 Updated

Open-house event for two days at Sagamihara Campus

The annual summer open house event at the Sagamihara Campus will be held for two days this year, on July 24 (Fri.) and 25 (Sat.)
Under this year’s theme “Sagamihara leads the way to space,” we will open some facilities that are not usually accessible, and introduce the latest research with easy-to-understand explanations. We are also preparing various events including an exhibition of satellites and rockets, a mini-mini space school, a plastic bottle rocket class, and a special filming of the all-sky movie “3D MOON.”
Please come and join us and create some great summer memories!

July 11, 2009 Updated

GTV test for H-IIB successfully held

The comprehensive ground test for the H-IIB Launch Vehicle using the Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) was held at the Tanegashima Space Center on July 11.
Although the GTV was not equipped with the fairing, the flight engine and four Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB-As) were attached. During the test, the exact same procedures as the real launch procedures were followed up until the engine ignition for the final confirmation of the vehicle, ground facilities and operation procedures.
(Photo: The H-IIB after it was moved to the launch pad)

July 8, 2009 Updated

HTV/H-IIB launch date decided! Special site opened

The H-IIB Launch Vehicle Test Flight with the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV, a cargo transporter to the International Space Station) will be launched at 2:04 a.m. on September 11 (Fri.). (*)
The HTV has been fully assembled at the Tanegashima Space Center, and it will be under final launch preparations including comprehensive checkout and propellant loading to be ready for launch.
The ground comprehensive test for the H-IIB Launch Vehicle using the Ground Test Vehicle (the GTV test) is scheduled on the 11th.
Please check the updated information on the HTV and H-IIB at the "HTV/H-IIB Special Site." We hope you enjoy the site.
(*) Time will be determined by the updated orbit of the International Space Station (ISS.)

July 2, 2009 Updated

Launch of Kibo's final assembly mission rescheduled for 8:39 a.m. on July 12

The delayed launch of the Space Shuttle "Endeavour" was rescheduled to 8:39 a.m. on July 12 (Sun.), 2009 (JST, or 7:39 p.m. on the 11th DST.)
The mission is to ship the Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistic Module Exposed Section of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" to the ISS. The new launch schedule was set after a hydrogen gas leakage, the cause of the launch delay, was confirmed to be repaired.
With this 2J/A (STS-127) mission, construction of the Kibo will be completed, and Astronaut Koichi Wakata, whose stay at the ISS has reached over 100 days, will come home to earth on the Endeavour.