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Kibo's Extravehicular Activity procedure development test No. 3 (OPS #3)
Test area facilities
Kibo's Extravehicular Activity procedure development test No. 3 (OPS #3) was conducted in the Weightless Environment Test Facility at Tsukuba Space Center from November 5 to 26, 2001. When the test was opened to the press on November 12, astronaut Koichi Wakata participated in the test wearing an underwater space suit, and astronaut Naoko Sumino gave a description to the press.


What's Kibo's Extravehicular Activity procedure development test No. 3 (OPS #3)?
 
Exposed Logistics Module Pressurized -Sectioin mockup
Exposed Facility mockup
 
Astronaut Mohri observed the operation as an observe-diver together with a NASA engineer.
  
Media Persons
Astronaut Sumino answering questions from media.
Astronaut Wakata
Astronaut Wakata and support divers
Astronaut Hoshide donning underwater space suit
Astronaut Sumino
Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module, will be launched to orbit from 2006 through 2007 in three flights and will be assembled using Space Shuttle robot arm and extravehicular activity (EVA).
NASDA will develop EVA procedures for Kibo assembly, and NASA will brush them up with NASDA's support. The procedures will include details of Kibo assembly, such as how to carry EVA tools, how to remove the thermal insulation that covers Kibo during launch phase, how the EVA astronauts move, and the time needed for these operations.
This test is conducted to confirm the procedures that will be submitted to NASA and to establish better assembly procedures.
Kibo's life-size mockup was located in the water pool in the weightless environment test facility, and astronauts in underwater space suits conducted the test. The previous test, OPS #2, was conducted from early February through early March 2001, assuming EVAs for the Pressurized Module and Exposed Facility assembly. OPS #3 was conducted to confirm the EVA procedures for assembly of the Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section, Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section, Exposed Facility, and Experiment Payloads.

This test was also conducted to confirm the design validity of equipment that will be assembled or maintained by EVA.

How OPS #3 was conducted
NASDA astronauts Wakata, Furukawa, Hoshide, Sumino, and NASA astronaut Joseph Tanner confirmed the subjects below following assembly procedures similar to those in space.
One maximum three-hour dive was conducted each day.

Subjects for Procedures Confirmation
  • Assembly sequence
  • Astronaut translation path and time
  • Handrail and handhold Locations
  • Tool locations
  • Validity of tool selection
  • Easy operation for a pair of astronauts
  • Operation time

Subjects for Design Confirmation

  • Handrail and handhold Locations
  • ORUs carrying methods
  • Accessibility to EVA interfaces including bolts, thermal insulation straps, connectors, and cable clamps.
  • Visibility of labels and indicators.

Future plans
Data collected through OPS #3 will be reflected in JEM EVA training procedures that will be conducted in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at Johnson Space Center.
Kibo's preparation is thus steadily proceeding toward launch.


Last Updated: October 31, 2002
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