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About Kibo
Milestones toward launch
All element components of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) "Kibo" were tested at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) before shipping to NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in preparation for launch.
Development Stages
The Kibo development process is divided into three stages: Basic development test stage, Engineering Model (EM) production and test stage, and Proto Flight Model (PFM) production and test stage.
Design, production and testing
Each component was manufactured and completed series of tests as a flight model. The components were assembled to form an assembly unit and each assembly unit was then subjected to the assembly unit test. The assembly units were connected to establish Kibo elements, and each element was subjected to tests for flight model validation.
Transportation to NASA
Japanese Experiment Module's (Kibo's) elements which had been collected in Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) were transported to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, USA for launch by the Space Shuttle.
Checkout and validation at NASA
Since Kibo was to be launched by a Space Shuttle, all Kibo elements gathered in Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) were transferred to Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, USA, where final checkout for launch was conducted.
Processing Work at KSC
Kibo components were tested and checked at the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) in NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) before their launches.
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