Experiment

List of JAXA's Utilization Themes

Click on an image to see each category.

Science

JAXA's science experimental themes take advantage of the unique microgravity environment of the ISS and the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo." Science experiments are divided into physical science that studies basic phenomena such as congealing process of a matter and fluid behavior and life science that studies how creatures adapt to the different environment and how they live making use of gravitational force.

Physical Science

Themes		Principal Investigator (PI) 【Affiliated Institution】	Onboard Utilization Status
	Spatio-temporal Flow Structure in Marangoni Convection (Marangoni UVP/MaranGoniat)	Shinichi Yoda 【JAXA】	in progress
	Interfacial phenomena and thermophysical properties of high-temperature liquids-Fundamental research of steel processing using electrostatic levitation (Interfacial Energy)	Masahito Watanabe 【Gakushuin University】	in progress
	Effects of impurities on perfection of protein crystals, partition functions, and growth mechanisms (Advanced Nano Step)	Yoshihisa Suzuki 【Tokushima University】	in progress
	The origin of fragility in high-temperature oxide liquids - towards fabrication of novel non-equilibrium oxide materials (Fragility)	Shinji Kohara 【NIMS】	in preparation
	Quantitative Description of Gravity Impact on Solid Material Flammability as a base of Fire Safety in Space (Solid Combustion ) [PDF: 149KB]	Osamu Fujita 【Hokkaido University】	in preparation
	Fundamental Research on International Standard of Fire Safety in Space -base for safety of future manned mission- (FLARE)	Osamu Fujita 【Hokkaido University】	in preparation
JEREMI	Interface Susceptibility and Control of Instability in Thermocapillary Convection (JEREMI) [PDF: 93KB]	Satoshi Matsumoto 【JAXA】	in preparation
L3-Flame	Low-speed counterflow flame experiment in space for constructing unified flammability theory on oxy-fuel combustion limit (L3-Flame) [PDF: 118KB]	Kaoru Maruta 【Tohoku University】	in preparation
Colloidal Clusters	Study on Phase Behavior of Multi-component Colloidal Clusters under Microgravity	Junpei Yamanaka 【Nagoya City University】	in preparation
	Interfacial Behaviors and Heat Transfer Characteristics in Boiling Two-Phase Flow (Two-Phase Flow) [PDF: 1.47MB]	Haruhiko Ohta 【Kyushu University】	post-flight analysis
	The establishment of dosimetric system in the International Space Station (ISS) using Position Sensitive Tissue Equivalent Proportional Chamber (PS-TEPC) [PDF: 95KB]	Shinichi Sasaki 【High Energy Accelerator Research Organization】	post-flight analysis
	Detailed validation of the new atomization concept derived from drop tower experiments - Aimed at developing a turbulent atomization simulator - (Atomization) [PDF: 259KB]	Akira Umemura 【Nagoya University】	post-flight analysis
	Chaos, Turbulence and its Transition Process in Marangoni Convection (Marangoni Exp/MEIS)	Koichi Nishino 【Yokohama National University】	completed
	Pattern Formation during Ice Crystal Growth (Ice Crystal)	Yoshinori Furukawa 【Hokkaido University】	completed
	Investigation on Mechanism of Faceted Cellular Array Growth (Facet)	Yuko Inatomi 【JAXA】	completed
	In-situ observation of growth mechanisms of protein crystals and their perfection under microgravity (NanoStep)	Katsuo Tsukamoto 【Tohoku University】	completed
	Crystal growth mechanisms associated with the macromolecules adsorbed at a growing interface –Microgravity effect for self-oscillatory growth– (Ice Crystal2) [PDF: 44KB]	Yoshinori Furukawa 【Hokkaido University】	completed
	Growth of Homogeneous SiGe Crystals in Microgravity by the TLZ method (Hicari)	Kyoichi Kinoshita 【JAXA】	completed
	Crystal Growth of Alloy Semiconductor Under Microgravity (Alloy Semiconductor) [PDF:66KB]	Yuko Inatomi 【JAXA】	completed
	Elucidation of Flame Spread and Group Combustion Excitation Mechanism of Randomly-distributed Droplet Clouds (Group Combustion) [PDF: 425KB]	Masato Mikami 【Yamaguchi University】	completed
	Experimental Assessment of Dynamic Surface Deformation Effects in Transition to Oscillatory Thermo capillary Flow in Liquid Bridge of High Prandtl Number Fluid (Dynamic Surf)	Yasuhiro Kamotani 【Case Western Reserve University】	completed
	Study on Soret effect (thermal diffusion process) for the mixed solution by the in-situ observation technique facilitated at SCOF (Soret-Facet) [PDF: 37KB]	Shinsuke Suzuki 【Waseda University】	completed

List of themes awaiting verification

Themes	Principal Investigator (PI) 【Affiliated Institution】
Structure Analysis of Colloidal Crystals under the Microgravity Environment by LASER Diffraction and Investigation of Colloidal Interaction (Kikuchi-Kossel) [PDF: 152KB]	Ikuo Sogami 【Kyoto Sangyo University】
Space Battery Safety Evaluation and Diagnostics Based on in-situ Measurements on Electrode/Electrolyte Interfacial Phenomena in Microgravity Environment	Takayuki Homma 【Waseda University】
Study of SiGe crystals (Hicari-II)	Yasutomo Arai 【JAXA】
Thermo-physical properties of liquid and heterogeneous solidification behavior of powder metals for 3D printer (Hetero-3D)	Shinsuke Suzuki 【Waseda University】
Elucidation of Flame Spread and Group Combustion Excitation Mechanism of Randomly Distributed Droplet Clouds-2 (Group Combustion-2)	Masato Mikami 【Yamaguchi University】
Evaluation of Flammability of Solid Materials in Space Habitation	Shuhei Takahashi 【Gifu University】

Life Science

Themes		Principal Investigator (PI) 【Affiliated Institution】	Onboard Utilization Status
	Identification of gravity-transducers in skeletal muscle cells (Cell Mechanosensing)	Masahiro Sokabe 【Nagoya University】	in progress
Medical Proteomics	Medical proteome analysis of osteoporosis- and bone mass-related proteins using the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module of International (Medical Proteomics)	Hisashi Hirano 【Yokohama City University】	in progress
Space Moss	Environmental response and utilization of mosses in space (Space Moss)	Fujita Tomomichi 【Hokkaido University】	in progress
	Development of advanced 3D organ culture system utilizing microgravity environment	Hideki Taniguchi 【Yokohama City University】	in preparation
Sparm stem Cells	Effect of space environment on fertility of spermatogonial stem cells	Takashi Shinohara 【Kyoto University】	in preparation
Ribosome Profiling	Genome-wide survey of translational control in microgravity	Shintaro Iwasaki 【RIKEN】	in preparation
	Studies on gravity-controlled growth and development in higher plants using true microgravity conditions on the Japanese experiment module “Kibo” in the international space station (Auxin Transport) [PDF: 77KB]	Junichi Ueda 【Osaka Prefecture University】	post-flight analysis
	Study on the Effect of Space Environment to Embryonic Stem Cells to Their Development (Stem Cells)	Takashi Morita 【Osaka City University】	post-flight analysis s
	Molecular mechanisms of differentiation and formation of the gravity sensing system in plant cells (Plant Gravity Sensing)	Hitoshi Tatsumi 【Nagoya University】	post-flight analysis
	"Microbe" : Microbiological monitoring in the International Space Station - KIBO (Microbe IV)	Masao Nasu 【Osaka University】	post-flight analysis
	Effects of the gravity on maintenance of muscle mass in zebrafish (Zebrafish Muscle)	Atsuko Sehara 【Kyoto University】	post-flight analysis
Amyloid	Characterization of amyloid formation under microgravity environment: Toward understanding the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases	Kato Koichi 【National Institutes of Natural Sciences】	post-flight analysis
	Identification of space environment-sensitive gene and investigation of the sensing mechanism using Zebrafish	Atsuko Sehara 【Kyoto University】	post-flight analysis
Mouse Stress Defense	Role of Environmental Stress‒responsive Transcription Factor Nrf2 in Space Stress	Masayuki Yamamoto 【Tohoku University】	post-flight analysis
	Effect of space environment on mammalian reproduction (Space Pup)	Teruhiko Wakayama 【University of Yamanashi】	post-flight analysis
MHU-4	Characterization of blood vessel gateway formation and molecule expression at dorsal vessels of spinal cords by gravity stimulation (Gravirity Gateway Reflex<MHU-4>)	Masaaki Murakami 【Hokkaido University】	post-flight analysis
Cell-Free Epigenome	Genome and epigenome analysis of circulating free DNA and RNA-based liquid biopsy	Masafumi Muratani 【University of Tsukuba】	post-flight analysis
	Role of Microtubule-Membrane-Cell Wall Continuum in Gravity Resistance in Plants (Resist-Wall)	Takayuki Hoson 【Osaka City University】	completed
	Reverse genetic approach to exploring genes responsible for cell-wall dynamics in supporting tissues of Arabidopsis under gravity conditions (Cell-Wall)	Kazuhiko Nishitani 【Tohoku University】	completed
	Life Cycle of Higher Plants under Microgravity Conditions (Space Seed)	Seiichiro Kamisaka 【University of Toyama 】	completed
	Regulation by Gravity of Ferulate Formation in Cell Walls of Rice Seedlings (Ferulate)	Kazuyuki Wakabayashi 【Osaka City University】	completed
	Hydrotropism and Auxin-Inducible Gene Expression in Roots Grown under Microgravity Conditions (Hydro Tropi)	Hideyuki Takahashi 【Tohoku University】	completed
	Studies on the role of auxin efflux facilitators in the gravity-influenced growth and development of plants (CsPINs)	Hideyuki Takahashi 【Tohoku University】	completed
	Mechanisms of Gravity Resistance in Plants: From Signal Transformation and Transduction to Response (Resist Tubule)	Takayuki Hoson 【Osaka City University】	completed
	Roles of cortical microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins in gravity-induced growth modification of plant stems (Aniso Tubule)	Kouichi Soga 【Osaka City University】	completed
	Plant circumnutation and its dependence on the gravity response (Plant Rotation) [PDF: 8KB]	Hideyuki Takahashi 【Tohoku University】	completed
	Gene expression of p53-regulated Genes in Mammalian Cultured Cells after Exposure to Space Environment (Rad Gene)	Takeo Ohnishi 【Nara Medical University】	completed
	Detection of Changes in LOH Profile of TK mutants of Human Cultured Cells (LOH)	Fumio Yatagai 【RIKEN】	completed
	Integrated Assessment of Long-term Cosmic Radiation Through Biological Responses of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori, in Space (Rad Silk)	Toshiharu Furusawa 【Kyoto Institute of Technology】	completed
	Biological Effects of Space Radiation and Microgravity on Mammalian Cells (Neuro Rad)	Hideyuki Majima 【Kagoshima University】	completed
	Life time heritable effect of space radiation on mouse germ cells and embryos preserved for a long-term in ISS (Embryo Rad) [PDF: 37KB]	Shizuko Kakinuma 【National Institute of Radiological Sciences】	completed
	Control of cell differentiation and morphogenesis of amphibian culture cells (Dome Gene)	Makoto Asashima 【The University of Tokyo】	completed
	Cbl-Mediated Protein Ubiquitination Downregulates the Response of Skeletal Muscle Cells to Growth Factors in Space (Myo Lab)	Takeshi Nikawa 【University of Tokushima】	completed
	RNA interference and protein phosphorylation in space environment using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (CERISE)	Atsushi Higashitani 【Tohoku University】	completed
	Alterations of C. elegans muscle fibers by microgravity (Nematode Muscles) [PDF: 162KB]	Atsushi Higashitani 【Tohoku University】	completed
	Epigenetics in spaceflown C. elegans	Atsushi Higashitani 【Tohoku University】	completed
	Study of the effects of space flight on the aging of C. elegans (Space Aging)	Yoko Honda 【Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology】	completed
	Studies on microbiota on board international space station and their relationship to health problem (Microbe)	Koichi Makimura 【Teikyo University】/ Masao Nasu 【Osaka University】	completed
	Investigation of the Osteoclastic and Osteoblastic Responses to Microgravity Using Goldfish Scales (Fish Scales)	Nobuo Suzuki 【Kanazawa University】	completed
	Effect of microgravity on osteoclasts and the analysis of the gravity sensing system in medaka	Akira Kudo 【Tokyo Institute of Technology】	completed
	Structure and Function Relationship of Erythrocyte Band 3 [PDF: 60KB]	Naotaka Hamasaki 【Nagasaki International University】	completed
	Enhanced effects of gravity by biological self-organizing processes	Yoshihiro Mogami 【Ochanomizu University】	completed
	Transcriptome analysis and germ cell development analysis of mice in the space (Mouse Epigenetics)	Satoru Takahashi 【University of Tsukuba】	completed

List of themes awaiting verification

Themes	Principal Investigator (PI) 【Affiliated Institution】
On-board Microorganism Monitoring in Spacecrafts [PDF: 169KB]	Takashi Yamazaki 【JAXA】
Research on inhibitory effects of novel concept biomaterials, a HSP inducer and ubiquitin ligase inhibitor, on microgravity-induced muscle atrophy	Ken Nikawa 【University of Tokushima】
Mechanism of accelerated aging under microgravity	Makoto Kuro-o 【Jichi Medical University】
Analysis of the impact of micro-gravity upon YAP-mechanohomeostasis toward generating and expanding a complex 3D organ	Makoto Seiki 【Yamaguchi University】
Bio-imaging analysis of cell gravity sensing	Masahiro Sokabe 【Nagoya University】
Elucidating the underlying mechanism of age-related musculoskeletal disorders from the viewpoint of inter-organ communication network	Shingo Sato 【Tokyo Medhical and Dental University】
Effect of space environment on fertility of spermatogonial stem cells	Takashi Shinohara 【Kyoto University】
Elucidation of the influence of decrease in autonomic nervous function-induced reduction of saliva secretion on the oral microbiome	Chikara Abe 【Gifu University】
Study on plant responses against the stresses of microgravity and radiation in space	Jun Hidema 【Tohoku University 】
The elucidation of muscle synergy mechanism during space flight	Masahiro Terada 【Kyoto University】
Growth responses of food crops to gravity and their applications to space plant factories	Yoshiaki Kitaya 【Osaka Prefecture University】
Cancer progression under microgravity environment in space	Akihisa Takahashi 【Gunma University】
Strategy to overcome the space stresses by reinforcing defense mechanism	Masayuki Yamamoto 【Tohoku University 】

Applied Utilization

Applied utilization aims to apply the results of space experiments to the development of new products on the ground which will turn into improvement of life on the Earth. In cooperation with industry and other research institutions, a lot of research and development including crystalization of high-quality protein and creation of nano materials, etc. are conducted.

List of themes

Themes		Principal Investigator (PI) 【Affiliated Institution】	Onboard Utilization Status
	Protein Crystal Growth (JAXA PCG)	University, corporate, and research institute researchers	in progress
	Nanomaterials in Microgravity (Nanoskeleton)	JAXA/Toyko University of Science	completed
	Production of Two-Dimensional Nano Template in Microgravity (2D-Nano Template)	JAXA/Nagoya Institute of Technology	completed

Space Medicine and Development of Manned Space Technology

Space Medicine and Development of Manned Space Technology study clinical space medicine and perform space technology demonstration to contribute to become the basis of astronauts’ health management and future manned space activities.

List of themes

Themes		Principal Investigator (PI) 【Affiliated Institution】	Onboard Utilization Status
	Area PADLES (Passive Dosimeter for Life Science Experiments in Space)	JAXA	in progress
	Crew PADLES (Passive Dosimeter for Life Science Experiments in Space)	JAXA	in progress
	The Effect of Long-term Microgravity Exposure on Cardiac Autonomic Function by Analyzing 48-hours Electrocardiogram (Biological Rhythms 48 hrs)	JAXA	in progress
Labyrinth	Evaluation of vestibular dysfunction induced by a long term stay in the ISS (Labyrinth)	Hironobu Morita 【Gifu University】	in progress
Cerebral Autoregulation	Human cerebral autoregulation during long-duration spaceflight (Cerebral Autoregulation)	Kenichi Iwasaki 【Nihon University】	in progress
	Bisphosphonates as a Countermeasure to Spaceflight-Induced Bone Loss (Bisphosphonates)	Toshio Matsumoto 【University of Tokushima】	post-flight analysis
	The elucidation of the re-adaptation on the attitude control (Synergy)	Noriaki Ishioka 【JAXA】	post-flight analysis
IPVI	Non-invasive assessment of intracranial pressure for space flight and related visual impairment (IPVI)	Kenichi Iwasaki 【Nihon University】	post-flight analysis
	Multi-omics analysis of human-microbial metabolic cross-talk in the space ecosystem (Multi Omics)	Hiroshi Ohno 【RIKEN】	post-flight analysis
	Matryoshka-R	JAXA/Federal Space Agency(RSA)/Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP)/RSC Energia	completed
	Effect of the Hybrid Training Method on the disuse atrophy of the musculoskeletal system of the astronauts staying in the International Space Station for a long term (Hybrid Training)	Naoto Shiba 【Kurume University】	completed
	Body microorganism flora evaluation (Myco)	JAXA/Teikyo University/Meiji Pharmaceutical University	completed
	Matryoshka	German Aerospace Center (DLR)	completed
	Varidation of On-orbit Digital Holter ECG Monitering (Holter ECG) [PDF:152KB]	JAXA	completed
	Evaluation of Onboard Diagnostic Kit (ODK)	JAXA	completed
	The effect of long-term microgravity exposure on cardiac autonomic function by analyzing electrocardiogram (Biological Rhythms)	JAXA/Tokyo Women's Medical University	completed
	Biomedical Analyses of Human Hair Exposed to a Long-term Space Flight (Hair)	JAXA	completed
	Super Sensitive High-Definition Television (SS-HDTV)	Japan Broadcasting Corporation	completed
	High Definition TeleVision transmitting system (HDTV)	JAXA	completed
	Re-entry Data Recorder (i-Ball)	JAXA	completed
	Plastic alteration of vestibulo-cardiovascular reflex and its countermeasure (V-C Reflex)	Hironobu Morita 【Gifu University】	completed

Outboard Utilization

Outboard utilization includes scientific observation, Earth observation, communication, engineering experiments, and material experiments taking advantage of its unique exposed environment featuring microgravity, high vacuum, and wide field view.

List of themes

Themes		Principal Investigator (PI) 【Affiliated Institution】	Onboard Operation Status
	CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET)	Shoji Torii 【Waseda University】	in progress
	Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI)	JAXA/RIKEN	in progress
	Exposed experiments using the Exposed Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism (ExHAM)	JAXA	in progress
	Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES)	JAXA/National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)	completed
	Space Inflatable Membranes Pioneering Long-term Experiments (SIMPLE)	Takahira Aoki 【Tokyo University】	completed
	Ionosphere, Mesosphere, upper Atomosphere, and Plasmasphere mapping (IMAP)	Akinori Saito 【Kyoto University】	completed
	Global Lightning and Sprite Measurement Mission (GLIMS)	Tomoo Ushio 【Osaka University】	completed
	Robot Experiment on JEM (REXJ)	Mitsushige Oda 【JAXA】	completed
	Assessment of Commercial-off-the-shelf, high definition television camera under exposed environment (COTS HDTV-EF)	JAXA	completed
	Demonstration of CubeSat deployment	JAXA	completed
	On-orbit demonstration experiments for thermal control technologies required for implementing competitive next-generation geostationary communications satellites	JAXA	completed
	Space Environment Data Acquisition equipment-Attached Payload (SEDA-AP)	JAXA	completed

Education Payload Observation (EPO)

Education Payload Observation (EPO) aims to attract more people to science, technology, and space development and to allow more people to utilize Kibo. EPO offers simple experiment opportunities such as educational science and pilot missions of humanity and social science fields.

List of themes

Themes		Principal Investigator (PI) 【Affiliated Institution】	Onboard Utilization Status
	Space Seeds for Asian Future	JAXA KUOA	in progress
	Asian Try Zero-G »Asian Try Zero-G 2018 »Asian Try Zero-G 2016	JAXA KUOA	in progress
	Try Zero-G (Educational science experiments) ・Performed by Koichi Wakata (Japanese audio with English subtitles) Video ・Performed by Astronaut Soichi Noguchi (Japanese audio with English subtitles) Video Sequel	JAXA	completed
	Space Poem Chain	JAXA	ending with Vol.4
	Education Payload Observation (EPO) Pilot Mission	University Researchers, etc.	completed
	Educational sample return mission "Learning Space and Life"	JAXA	completed