The Japanese Joint Operation Panel (JJOP), a joint meeting with NASA for Kibo operations, is held twice a year to discuss roles of NASA and NASDA, operation rules, and procedures.

The seventh JJOP was held at Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) in the beginning of Nov. and was attended by astronauts Hoshide and Sumino.

The Multi-Element Integration Test (MEIT) is conducted on the Earth to confirm the efficiency of interfaces between International Space Station (ISS) modules and onboard operation procedures before each ISS module launch. The MEIT is conducted three times for a group of modules whose launch dates are near. An interface test will be conducted between Kibo and Node2 during the third MEIT (MEIT-III).

Astronauts Hoshide and Sumino participated in the MEIT-III Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) held at TKSC from late Nov. to early Dec.

Astronaut Sumino

The Kibo Advanced Training phase 2 (#2) Pilot Course was conducted from November 11 to December 13, 2002.

Astronaut Sumino participated in this training as an observer and discussed it with trainees from other countries, engineers who also attended it as observers, and instructors to improve Kibo training.

Astronaut Furukawa explained the test.

Kibo's Extravehicular Activity (EVA) procedure development test No. 4 (OPS #4) was conducted in the Weightless Environment Test Building (WET) at TKSC from November 4 to 22, 2002. Astronauts Furukawa, Hoshide and Sumino observed the test to improve their EVA skills.

When the test was opened to the press on November 6, astronaut Doi participated in the test wearing an underwater space suit (remodeled on-orbit space suit suitable for underwater), and astronaut Furukawa gave a description to the press.

In December, astronaut Furukawa and Hoshide participated in the test wearing an underwater space suit. We will present the details in our Dec. Report.

Astronauts Furukawa and Sumino with astronaut Lucid.

Astronaut Shannon Lucid visited TKSC on Nov. 20. She holds the women's longest record to stay in orbit (223 days) by six shuttle missions and a stay on Russian's Space Station Mir.

Astronauts Furukawa and Sumino took her into a clean room in the Space Station Test Building and gave her a description of the Kibo flight model.

Astronaut Furukawa visited Kyoto Sangyo University in Kyoto City on November 27. He talked about how he made his dream of becoming an astronaut come true and his future aspirations to encourage its students.