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Japanese Experiment Module

The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), nicknamed Kibo (きぼう, Kibō, Hope), is a Japanese science module for the International Space Station (ISS) developed by JAXA. It is the largest single ISS module, and is attached to the Harmony module. The first two pieces of the module were launched on Space Shuttle missions STS-123 and STS-124. The third and final components were launched on STS-127.^[1]

Components

Kibō consists of six major elements: 1) pressurized module (PM), 2) exposed facility (EF), 3) experiment logistics module–pressurized section (ELM-PS), 4) experiment logistics module–exposed section (ELM-ES), 5) Japanese Experiment Module remote manipulator system (JEMRMS), and 6) Inter-orbit communication system (ICS).^[2]

Pressurized module

Interior of the pressurized module

The pressurized module (PM) is the core component connected to the port hatch of Harmony. It is cylindrical in shape and contains twenty-three International Standard Payload Racks (ISPRs), ten of which are dedicated to science experiments while the remaining 13 are dedicated to Kibo’s systems and storage.^[3] The racks are placed 6-6-6-5 along the four walls of the module. The end of the JEM-PM has an airlock and two window hatches. The Exposed Facility, Experiment Logistics Module and the Remote Manipulator System all connect to the pressurized module. Kibo is also the location for many of the press conferences that take place on board the station.

Exposed facility

Exposed facility

The exposed facility (EF), also known as "Terrace", is located outside the port cone of the PM (which is equipped with an airlock). The EF has 12 EFU (exposed facility unit) ports that attach to PIU (payload interface unit) connectors on EF-EEUs (EF equipment exchange units). All experiment payloads are fully exposed to the space environment. For proper functioning of these experiments, the payload requires an ORU (orbital replacement unit) which consists of the EPS (electrical power system), CT (communications & tracking) and the TCS (thermal control system). Of the 12 ORUs, eight are replaceable by the JEMRMS while the other four are EVA-replaceable.

Experiment logistics module

Experiment logistics module, pressurized section

The experiment logistics module (ELM) includes two sections:

• The pressurized section (ELM-PS) – also called the JLP (Japanese logistics pressurized) – is a pressurized addition to the PM. The module is a storage facility that provides storage space for experiment payloads, samples and spare items.^[4]
  


• The unpressurized (external) section (ELM-ES) serves the EF as a storage and transportation module.

Remote manipulator system

The remote manipulator system (JEMRMS) is a 10 m long robotic arm, mounted at the port cone of the PM, intended to service the EF and to move equipment from and to the ELM. The RMS control console was launched while inside the ELM-PS. The main arm was launched with the PM. The small fine arm is 2 m long and attaches to the end effector of the main arm, was launched aboard HTV-1 on the maiden flight of the HTV spacecraft. Once HTV docked the small fine arm was assembled by the crew and deployed out the airlock to test it. Once deployed outside the JEMRMS grappled it and unfolded the arm to flex the joints before stowing it onto the exposed facility.^[5] The free end of the JEMRMS is able to use the type of grapple fixtures that the Canadarm2 uses.^[6]

Launch sequence

The EF and ELM-ES arrive at the Kennedy Space Center (left). Technicians work on the Remote Manipulator System at KSC (right).

NASA launched the JEM complex over three flights using the Space Shuttle. The shuttle had a large payload bay which carried the modules into orbit along with the crew. This is in contrast to the Russian modules, which are launched into orbit on multistage Proton rockets and then rendezvous and dock with the station automatically. On 12 March 2007, the Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section (ELM-PS), the main laboratory, arrived at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) from Japan.^[7] It was stored in the Space Station Processing Facility until launched into orbit aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour as part of the STS-123 mission.^[8]

On 30 May 2003, the Pressurized Module (PM) arrived at KSC from Japan.^[9] It was stored at the Space Station Processing Facility until launched into orbit aboard Space Shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-124 mission.^[10] On 3 June 2008 the PM was attached to the Harmony module. At first the ELM-PS, the small cargo bay, was connected to a temporary location on Harmony and later, on 6 June 2008, was moved to its final berthing location on top (zenith) of the main laboratory.

The EF and ELM-ES arrived at KSC on 24 September 2008.^[11] The Exposed Facility (EF) and ELM-ES were launched on STS-127, on 15 July 2009.^[12] The ELM-ES was brought back to Earth at the end of the mission. The assembly of the EF was completed during the fifth spacewalk of the mission.^[13]

Specifications

NASDA era graphic

Kibō is the largest single ISS module.

• 
  Pressurized module^[14]
  
  
  • Length: 11.19 m (36.7 ft)
  
  
  • Diameter: 4.39 m (14.4 ft)
  
  
  • Mass: 15,900 kg (35,100 lb)
  
  
  
  


• 
  Experiment logistics module^[15]
  
  
  • Length: 4.21 m (13.8 ft)
  
  
  • Diameter: 4.39 m (14.4 ft)
  
  
  • Mass: 8,386 kg (18,488 lb)
  
  
  
  

Current external experiments on Kibo

• 
  MAXI - X-ray astronomy from 0.5 to 30 keV^[16]
  


• 
  ICS-EF - Inter-orbit Communication System - Exposed Facility, Japanese communication system.


• 
  CALET - CALorimetric Electron Telescope (JAXA), Observation for high energy. Launched aboard HTV-5.^[17] Mass: 2500 kg^[18]
  


• 
  NREP - Nanoracks External Platform. NREP-2 is the current mission on this pallet.


• 
  i-SEEP - IVA-replaceable Small Exposed Experiment Platform (JAXA)


• 
  CREAM - Cosmic Ray Energetics and Mass. Launched on SpaceX CRS-12.


• 
  ECOSTRESS - Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station^[19]
  


• GEDI - Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation on ISS

Former external experiments on Kibo

Deorbited with HTV-5:

• 
  SMILES - Observes and monitors very weak sub-millimeter wave emission lines of trace gas molecules in the stratosphere^[20]
  


• 
  MCE - Multi-mission Consolidated Equipment (NASA)

Deorbited with SpaceX CRS-15:

• 
  CATS - Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (LiDAR, NASA)


• 
  HREP (Hyperspectral Imager for the Coastal Ocean (HICO) & Remote Atmospheric & Ionospheric Detection System (RAIDS) Experimental Payload)^[21]
  

Jettisoned into orbit by ISS robotic arm:^[22]

• 
  SEDA-AP (Space Environment Data Acquisition equipment-Attached Payload) - Measures neutrons, plasma, heavy ions, and high-energy light particles in the station's orbit.

Planned external experiments on Kibo

Looking alongside

• 
  OCO-3 - Monitoring of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere using a flight spare from OCO-2. To be launched in 2018 aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.^[23]
  


• 
  MOLI - Multi-footprint Observation Lidar and Imager (JAXA)


• 
  HISUI - Hyperspectral Imager Suite (METI)

Current internal experiments on Kibo

Looking forward at Kibo

Japanese:

• 
  RYUTAI Rack - Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF), Solution Crystallization Observation Facility (SCOF), Protein Crystallization Research Facility (PCRF), Image Processing Unit (IPU)


• 
  SAIBO Rack - Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF), Clean Bench (CB)


• 
  KOBAIRO Rack - Gradient Heating Furnace (GHF)


• 
  MPSR-1 - Multi-Purpose Small payload Rack


• 
  MPSR-2 - Multi-Purpose Small payload Rack, housing Electrostatic Levitating Furnace (ELF)

American:

• 
  EXPRESS Rack 4 - Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC), Gas Supply Module (GSM), Space Acceleration Measurement System-II (SAMS-II), Biotechnology Specimen Temperature Controller (BSTC), Nanoracks NanoLab


• EXPRESS Rack 5


• 
  MELFI-1 two Minus eighty degree freezer racks.


• Life Science Glovebox (LSG)

Planned internal experiments on Kibo

• JEM-EUSO

Parts

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  Pressurized Module
  

  
  

  
  


• 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section
  

  
  

  
  


• 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Exposed Facility
  

  
  

  
  


• 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section
  

  
  

  
  


• 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Remote Manipulator System
  

  
  

  
  

See also

• Scientific research on the ISS

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Japanese Experiment Module.

• 
  Japanese Experiment Module (KIBO) at JAXA.jp