Dry-run of the Try Zero-G* for Asian Youth/KiboABC's Program

JAXA asked young people in the Asia-Pacific region to submit proposals for the next Try Zero-G experiments between December 2014 and January 2015. Proposals were received from young people in seven countries, of which six Asia-Pacific Youth ideas were selected for the next Try Zero-G program, expected to be carried out by JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui this year.

Try Zero-G* for Asian Youth (Kibo-ABC webpage)

What is needed to ensure that these "desk study" ideas can be implemented in space?

The JAXA Kibo operation team has performed a "Dry-run" of the Try Zero-G program in the Tsukuba Space Center. The process we refer to as a "Dry-run" involves an ODF (Operations Data File) verification for each space experiment. The Kibo operation team analyzes the chosen experiment ideas, and proposes suitable test scenarios to turn these ideas into viable space experiments that can be conducted by astronauts in their unique space environment. The scenarios are tested using actual materials loaded on the ISS; test cases are read aloud to calculate the operational time (for video shooting). If the tools or protocol chosen for the space experiments prove to be unsuitable or inefficient, the team considers alternate ways to conduct the experiments, perhaps by using other materials. Consideration is also given to how and where the astronauts will perform each experiment in order to create the most interesting visual presentation possible that will enable viewers to fully and effectively appreciate the test results. Skilled engineers simulate the movement of every material used in space, and well-designed scenarios (in which the proposed experiment can be conducted by a single astronaut) are implemented.

The six well-designed experiments below are now ready to be conducted by JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui this year, during his long-duration ISS flight. Guess what each experiment will demonstrate!

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Selected Ideas for Try Zero-G 2015

Country	Title	Proposed operation
Malaysia	Spinning a ball on its own axis with one finger	Observing the behavior of any solid object (for example, a ruler, book, or laptop) set spinning by the touch of a fingertip
Thailand	Can we make wind in space?	Observing the behavior of solid objects fanned with a large piece of paper (background sheet)
Philippines	The incredible hoop glider!	Behavior observation of various types of hoop glider
Bangladesh and Australia**	Paper ball inside a water ball	Observing the effect of a microgravity environment on a paper ball inside a water ball

Zero-G Backup experiments (to be scheduled if there is enough time to perform them)

Country	Title	Proposed operation
Thailand	Zero G painting	Observing the changing shapes created by painting and signing in various directions -- with a normal orientation, sideways, and upside down
Philippines (4 similar Ideas) and Malaysia**	Weight attached to a somersaulting stretched slinky	Observing the behavior of a slinky (with aluminum weight on one side) when released after spinning horizontally

**Similar proposals have been merged.

*Try Zero-G for Asian Youth (2011- Present)

In order to promote manned space experiments aboard the Kibo, Japanese astronauts carry out a selection of experiments on themes proposed by young people from various Asian countries. Member agencies of Kibo-ABC are invited to submit proposals for experiments; after feasibility assessments by JAXA, a final selection of experimental themes will be determined by the member agencies of Kibo-ABC.