Experiment

Initiating the joint exposed experiment with the Republic of Turkey utilizing the Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism(ExHAM)

In the evening of April 13, 2017, the initial mission of the collaboration between Japan and Turkey - space experiments in an exposed environment using the Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM) - has been initiated on board Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) "Kibo" of the International Space Station (ISS). To mark a start of the experiment, His Excellency Mr. Ahmet Bülent MERIÇ, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey observed an installation of the ExHAM with the experiment sample in the Kibo Mission Control Room at JAXA Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC).

His Excellency Mr. Ahmet Bülent MERIÇ, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in the Kibo Mission Control Room (Credit: JAXA)

The ExHAM with the Turkey's experimental sample (Credit: JAXA/NASA)

This is a national cooperation between Japan and Turkey in relation to a cooperation arrangement concerning the utilization of the Kibo which was signed by the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Turkey and JAXA on September 8, 2016. This agreement is related to the cooperation agreement relating a space and aeronautical field being signed by Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Minister of State for Space Policy, and Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Turkey on December, 2010. Also, the agreement at Japan-Turkey Summit Meeting held on October 2015, deepening the expansion of the "strategic partnership" between the two countries in all fields.

The cooperation is to offer opportunities to deploy a CubeSat (3U size) from Kibo, and to conduct two space experiments in an exposed environment on board Kibo. This is the first time experiment, evaluating the functions of satellite-oriented communication equipment in an exposed environment in a year.

Reference:
JAXA and the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, Republic of Turkey sign a Cooperation Agreement

At a press conference, His Excellency Mr. Ahmet Bülent MERIÇ stated as follows: "This is a truly wonderful day for relations between Turkey and Japan. It is a great pleasure to observe the installation of the ExHAM with our experiment sample. I was impressed as much as when I observed the "KOUNOTORI6" launch in the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) on December 9 last year. I'd like to thank JAXA and all the people involved".

At a press conference (Credit: JAXA)

H. E. Mr. Ahmet Bülent MERIÇ shaking hands with Mr. Hamazaki, Director General of the JAXA Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate (Credit: JAXA)

The Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM) - Kibo's unique function having both airlock and robotic arm among modules on the ISS - is used for a long-term materials ISS experiment. It enables installing and retrieving the experiment equipment frequently, as well as increasing experiment opportunities in the exposed environment.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)