The Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), also known as 'Kibo' (pronounced key-boh), will be delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) this year. This spring, two Kibo designated launches are scheduled from the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

Kibo is Japan’s first manned space facility and will be operated as part of the ISS. Kibo’s functions are similar to the other ISS experiment modules including the Destiny and Columbus laboratories. However, Kibo has been designed with distinctive characteristics. Kibo is a complex facility that consists of several components and possesses every function that’s required to conduct experiment activities in space. In the future, Kibo undoubtedly will facilitate experiment activities on orbit. However, Kibo’s utilization is not limited to on-orbit experiments. JAXA plans on expanding the opportunities for extensive utilization of the space environment, including cultural and educational activities.

The six Kibo elements are;
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) Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS)
6) Inter-Orbit Communication System (ICS).

These elements will be delivered to the ISS during three different space shuttle flights and assembled on orbit during ISS assembly missions 1J/A, 1J and 2J/A.


During each mission, one of the three JAXA astronauts assigned to the Kibo assembly missions will assemble, activate and check out each component that’s launched during the respective assembly mission.

First, in mid-March, astronaut Doi will fly to the ISS with Kibo’s stowage module, ELM-PS. Just a couple of months later, astronaut Hoshide will fly to the ISS with Kibo’s main experiment module, PM, and Kibo’s robotic arm, JEMRMS.
Astronaut Wakata will fly to the ISS during the STS-119 Mission, and he’ll remain on board the ISS as an ISS Expedition 18 Flight Engineer. Astronaut Wakata will await the arrival of Kibo’s external experiment platform and external stowage pallet that will be delivered during the STS-127 Mission.