Kibo Advanced Training #2

Four astronauts who completed the training (astronauts Wakata, Nespoli, Creamer, and Hoshide from the left)

Kibo Advanced Training #2 was conducted for four astronauts; NASDA astronauts Wakata and Hoshide, NASA astronaut Timothy Creamer, and ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli.

Advanced Training teaches ISS crews general subjects such as ISS systems and payloads.

Astronaut Wakata paired with astronaut Nespoli in this training, and astronaut Hoshide paired with astronaut Creamer. They were trained on Kibo systems (mainly the Remote Manipulator System, Airlock, and Exposed Facility) and Japanese payloads such as the Gradient Heating Furnace and Clean Bench.

In March, astronaut Furukawa will also take this Advanced Training.

Training with Kibo Airlock Trainer

Training for payloads

STS-107 Biospecimen Sharing Program Ground Support

Astronaut Furukawa had been supporting STS-107 mission at KSC by collecting specimens in the Biospecimen Sharing Program for experiments that had been completed aboard Space Shuttle Columbia for study on the earth. Though specimens could not be collected due to the Columbia accident, he could acquire skills that would be needed for similar tasks aboard Kibo in the future.