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Kibo, which means "hope" in Japanese, is a micro-gravity research facility which aims to open a vital new stage in deeper space exploration. "We are now taking this first step down the path that will lead to the establishment of 'a Japanese home in space,'" Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said after the Endeavour crew boarded the ISS, borrowing a comment that Doi made before launch. Endeavour will also deliver a piece of hardware from Canada -- a component for the robotic arm named Dextre, which is used for delicate tasks normally reserved for an astronaut on a space walk. The 16-day Endeavour mission is the longest at the ISS and will see the crew venture out on five space walks, totaling about 30 hours of work. Kibo will be the largest by far of the four research modules on board the station and represents Japan's most important offering to the project, to which the island nation has contributed a total of 10 billion dollars. Several of Kibo's experiments, focusing in part on medicine, biology, biotechnology and communications, are seen as crucial steps in preparing further missions to the Moon and even human missions to Mars. The first stage being delivered is ELM-PS, a 4.2-ton logistics module measuring 12.8 feet long and14.4 feet in diameter. Its key component, the Pressurized Module with a remote-control robotic arm, is expected to be transported to the ISS on space shuttle Discovery due to launch May 25. The module is a massive 36.7 feet cylinder weighing 15.9 tons. The final Kibo installment, an inter-orbit communications system unit called the Exposed Facility, is due for delivery in March 2009. Gorie, 50, leads a team comprising co-pilot Gregory Johnson, 45, mission specialists Rick Linnehan, 50, Robert Behnken, 37, Mike Foreman, 50, Garret Reisman, 40, and Doi, 53, from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Four of the astronauts are making their maiden voyages into space. Aboard the ISS are commander Peggy Whitson, Frenchman Leopold Eyharts, a medical researcher and engineer from France's National Center of Space Studies, and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko. Eyharts will be returning to Earth aboard Endeavour, with Reisman taking his place abord the ISS. Related Links: |
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