|
|||||
 | |||||
| << July | September >> |    |
This is JAXA's Japanese astronaut primary activity report for August 2006.
Serving as the CAPCOM at NASA |
| Astronaut Hoshide serving as CAPCOM [Video:1 min. 56 sec.] |
 Windows Media® |
| RealVideo® |
Astronaut Hoshide, who is currently working as part of the Capcom branch of NASA's Astronaut Office, served as the CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator) between the Mission Control Center - Houston (MCC-H) at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) and the International Space Station (ISS).
Astronaut Hoshide communicated with the ISS Expedition 13 crew, including Astronaut Jeffery Williams, the day after the crew conducted an Extravehicular Activity (EVA). Astronaut Hoshide, as CAPCOM, supported the ISS crew's post-EVA activities, which included servicing their spacesuits. Astronaut Hoshide will be undertaking similar communication tasks several times a month between MCC-H and the ISS.
Crew Review of the Remote Manipulator Control System |
| Astronaut Yamazaki (right) confirming the design and positioning of the RMS Control System. |
Astronaut Yamazaki participated in the Crew Review of the Remote Manipulator Control System at Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC). The Remote Manipulator Control System will be installed in the Pressurized Module (PM), which is part of the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo. The Crew Review was done to ensure safer operations of Kibo Remote Manipulator System (RMS).
Using the control system installed in a mock-up of Kibo PM, Astronaut Yamazaki verified, from an astronaut's point of view, that the design and installation positions would pose no problems during the operation of the manipulator. She also confirmed that the past astronaut evaluations of the design were properly incorporated as part of the current design.
 |
 |
 |
With NASA engineer James Tinch, I participated in the Crew Review of Kibo RMS. This review was done as part of Robotics branch tasks, in which I participate while at NASA. It was a great opportunity to verify the actual hardware with the RMS developers. A Canadian robotic arm (Canadarm2) is currently in operation aboard the ISS, and the Kibo RMS will soon join it. We are now working on the RMS. Just wait a bit and you'll see the RMS working on orbit in the near future! |
 |
The First Annual Chigasaki Space Memorial Day |
 |
| Astronaut Noguchi (left) during the Question and Answer session | Packed venue |
Astronaut Noguchi participated in the "Chigasaki Space Memorial Day" event, held in Chigasaki, Kanagawa. The event commemorated the day when the Space Shuttle Discovery returned home from the STS-114 mission, on which Astronaut Noguchi himself flew. As many as 1200 people were in the audience that gathered at the Chigasaki Primary School where the event was held.
After the event, Astronaut Noguchi conducted a space classroom session and gave a lecture. During the space classroom event, the venue at Chigasaki was linked with the Ikaruga Primary School in Taishicho, Hyogo Prefecture and the Mukai Chiaki Children's Science Museum in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture. Astronaut Noguchi answered questions from the children from each participating site.
The 14th Nippon Jamboree |
| Astronaut Noguchi receiving the Scouting Medal of Merit. |
Astronaut Noguchi attended the 14th Nippon Jamboree (hosted by the Scout Association of Japan). The Jamboree was an international gathering of Scouts and was held in Ishikawa Prefecture. The Jamboree is held once every four years. This event attracted participants from abroad as well as Scouts from all over Japan. Astronaut Noguchi received a huge round of applause from the audience of 25,000 when he appeared on the stage.
Astronaut Noguchi, a former Boy Scout, was awarded the Scouting Medal of Merit for his role in being a dream maker for children. During his speech to the audience, Astronaut Noguchi mentioned the e-mail that he had sent to the Boy Scouts that encouragingly said, "You may be the one who will be sending these messages from the International Space Station in the near future. I hope you will do your best with your daily activities, as well as continue looking forward to your bright futures."
| << July | September >> | |
|
