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April 2010

Chronological Index
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April 21, 2010 Updated

HAYABUSA's Sample Recovery Capsule to land on Earth on June 13

JAXA has been discussing with the Australian government the landing location for the Sample Recovery Capsule aboard the Asteroid Explorer "HAYABUSA," which is being carefully maneuvered for its return. As a result, we have received landing permission (the Authorized Return of Overseas Launch Space Object (AROLSO) from the Space Licensing and Safety Office (SLASO) of the Australian Government.
The HAYABUSA's capsule will enter the Earth's atmosphere at around 11:00 p.m. on June 13 (Japan Standard Time, or at 14:00 on the same day Universal Time, Coordinated) to land at the Woomera Prohibited Area in South Australia.
We will carry out a trajectory correction maneuver (TCM) for a few more times to make the landing as accurate as possible.
We have opened a special site for providing updated information about the HAYABUSA's trip home. In addition, the HAYABUSA project team Twitter has also started. We welcome your support messages to HAYABUSA and its project team. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

April 20, 2010 Updated

Discovery returns
Welcome home, Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki!

The Space Shuttle "Discovery", with Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki aboard, landed at the NASA Kennedy Space Center at 10:08 p.m. on April 20 (Japan Standard Time.) All tasks for the roughly 15-day mission, including the transportation of the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, Leonardo, were successfully completed.
We were pleased to receive a lot of support messages. Thank you very much. We also are happy that many of you watched and enjoyed "SPACE@NAVI-Kibo." Thank you very much for supporting the mission. (Photo by NASA)

April 19, 2010 Updated

Astronaut Yamazaki to stay in space two additional days
Set to come home on April 20th (Tue.)

The Space Shuttle Discovery, which Astronaut Yamazaki is aboard, will stay one day longer in space than the original schedule, as its thermal protection system (TPS) will be checked while it is docked with the International Space Station (ISS), thus the work requires one extra day. Her flight to come home is rescheduled to arrive on Earth at 8:34 p.m. on April 20 (Tue, Japan Standard Time, or 7:34 a.m. on the same day U.S. Eastern Daylight-saving Time.)
JAXA's Internet live broadcast of her arrival will start at 7:30 p.m. on April 20th (Tue.) at "SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE." We will also broadcast it at JAXA i by extending the closing time. (Image by NASA)
* The arrival time has been rescheduled.

April 9, 2010 Updated

JAXA 2010 Spring Events for Science and Technology Week

During the Science and Technology Week between April 12 and 18, JAXA will host some enjoyable events. Starting with "The 29th Space and Science Lecture and Movie" on the 10th, we will hold an open-house event at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) on the 17th (Sat.), and at Chofu Aerospace Center (CAC) and Kakuda Space Center (KSPC) on the 18th (Sun.) We are preparing a lot of events that enable people to get close to aerospace, including a popular "plastic rocket bottle class" and "a lecture by Astronaut Furukawa" at the TKSC, and a "rocket darts game" at the CAC.
On the 25th (Sun.), the JAXA information center, JAXA i, will host "Spring Kids Day 2010." We plan to have games and hands-on learning events through which children can better understand "AKATSUKI" and "IKAROS" satellites, which will be launched soon. Please come and join us!

April 8, 2010 Updated

Astronaut Yamazaki moved Leonardo to the ISS

On the fourth day of the flight (April 8, JST) Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki manipulated the robotic arm (SSRMS) of the International Space Station (ISS) to take out the multi-purpose logistics module, Leonardo, from the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Discovery. At 1:24 p.m. (JST), Leonardo was securely attached to the lower side (Earth side) of the Harmony (Node 2) of the ISS.
Leonardo is filled with lots of mission devices, experiment racks and supply cargo including a refrigerator and freezer (MELFI) which keeps test materials and chemicals at low temperatures for experiments carried out in Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module. After moving all the cargo in Leonardo to the ISS, the logistic module will be taken back to the Discovery. (Photo by NASA)

April 7, 2010 Updated

Two Japanese astronauts in space for the first time!
Discovery docked with the ISS

The Space Shuttle Discovery, with Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki aboard, docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:44 p.m. on April 7 (Japan Standard Time.) At 6:11 p.m. on the same day (JST) the Discovery crew, including Astronaut Yamazaki, entered the ISS to get together with the ISS expedition crew including Astronaut Soichi Noguchi. This marks the first occasion that two Japanese astronauts are concurrently in space.
During her stay at the ISS, Astronaut Yamazaki will coordinate cargo transportation operations between the Shuttle and the ISS as a Load Master, and manipulate the robotic arms of the Shuttle and the ISS to move the multi-purpose logistics module, Leonardo.
Astronaut Yamazaki will stay in space until April 16th (Fri.) Discovery is scheduled to leave the ISS and return to Earth on April 18th (Sun.) (Photo by NASA)

April 5, 2010 Updated

Flying to the Future
Discovery with Astronaut Yamazaki aboard launched

Space Shuttle Discovery with Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki aboard was launched at 7:21 p.m. on April 5 (Mon. Japan Standard Time, or 6:21 a.m. on the same day U.S. Easter Daylight Saving Time) from NASA Kennedy Space Center.
Discovery will be docked with the International Space Station (ISS,) where Astronaut Soichi Noguchi is staying. The two Japanese astronauts will meet in space.
On April 7th (Wed.,) SPACE@NAVI-Kibo SPECIAL LIVE will broadcast a live report of Discovery-ISS docking from 4:00 p.m., and Astronaut Yamazaki entering the ISS from 6:00 p.m. Don’t miss the broadcast!
We are welcoming support messages to Astronaut Yamazaki. (Photo by NASA)