About Kibo

Design, production and testing

Flight Model Manufacture, Assembly and Test Procedures

A component will be manufactured and completes series of tests as a flight model. The components will be assembled to form an assembly unit and each assembly unit will then be subjected to an assembly unit test. The assembly units will then be connected to establish Kibo elements, and each element will be subjected to tests in which they will be inspected to prove that they have no problems as flight models.

After each element is inspected, Kibo elements will be gathered at Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) and be mated in the on-board Kibo configuration in order to check total system functions and performance.

After total system tests are completed, the following tests will be conducted in the launch configuration. Tests will be conducted in the launch configuration since Kibo is going to be launched to orbit by three separated Space Shuttle flights. When all tests are completed, the next event is the launch. Each element will be packaged and transferred to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in the US.