International Space Station

The international space station is a permanent, expandable, multipurpose manned facility (approximately 110 meters in overall length and 75 meters in width) built in earth orbit at an altitude of 400 kilometers through international cooperation among Japan, USA, Russia, and Europe. Operations such as scientific observation, space observation, space communications experiments, and the manufacture of materials and pharmaceuticals will be carried out aboard the international space station. The experiment module “Kibo,” under the charge of Japan, is the first manned facility developed in Japan. In addition to the Kibo’s Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section, IA is developing experiment racks and experimental equipment installed in the pressurized modules, the Exposed Pallet, and the Propulsion Module for the space station H-ⅡTransfer Vehicle (HTV), and the like.