Experiment

JAXA selected additional utilization themes for the second phase utilization period to be conducted aboard the Kibo's Pressurized Module

In February, 2012, JAXA selected additional 5 candidate experiment themes to be conducted on the Kibo's Pressurized Module (PM) in the latter half of the second phase utilization period (from the latter half of JFY 2012 -2013).

Given the three years of Kibo's operational experience, this Announcement of Opportunity (AO) was provided to fully make use of "small experimental opportunities" that occur between the start and the end of large experiments. Thus, the proposals were limited to the ones that could be prepared and completed in a short time. In addition, experimental materials had to be relatively light for launch and had to require less time for astronauts on-orbit. Nevertheless, many challenging themes were proposed to take advantage of this precious Kibo utilization opportunity.

The 5 candidate experiments were selected out of 40 proposals by the Kibo Utilization Promotion Committee, which is an advisory committee of the JAXA President and its sub-committee.

Each Principal Investigator (PI) and JAXA will collaborate to study for the concretion of their experimental designs. After undergoing the review by the committee, they will proceed to the preparation for the flight experiments.

The selected candidate experiments are as follows.