Kibo PM departure for USA

The Kibo Pressurized Module (PM) departed from Japan for NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at 6:00 p.m. JST, May 2, 2003.

The PM completed a series of tests in Japan including a total systems test and was confirmed to satisfy requirements for its transfer to the US through a pre-shipment review conducted on March 18 and April 7, 2003. The NASA-NASDA PM pre-shipment review conducted on April 7 also confirmed that KSC was ready to receive the Kibo PM.

The Multi-Element Integration Test-III (MEIT-III) will be conducted after the arrival of the PM at KSC.

PM departure from Japan on May 2

The ocean-going ship departs from shore.

Today, test equipment was loaded into an ocean-going ship and the ship departed from Yokohama Harbor, Japan at 6:00 p.m. JST.

The PM is scheduled to arrive at KSC in early June.

PM on the ship Cargo compartment closing at 5:00 p.m.

The ocean-going ship

Departure from Yokohama Harbor at 6:00 p.m. JST

Departure from Yokohama Harbor at 6:00 p.m. JST

PM loaded into an ocean-going ship on May 1

The PM was transferred to an ocean-going ship from a domestic ship that had arrived at Yokohama Harbor on April 25.

PM transfer from the domestic ship to the ocean ship

PM transfer from the domestic ship to the ocean ship Security boat

PM departure from Tsuchiura New Harbor in Japan on April 23

The PM departed from Tsuchiura New Harbor at 6:25 a.m. JST.

The PM departed from Tsuchiura New Harbor

PM departure from Tsukuba Space Center on April 22

PM moving inside TKSC

PM departing from TKSC

PM loading into the container on April 15 and 16

PM EM being moved (*) Preparation for loading

Preparation for loading

Preparation for loading

PM ready for loading PM PFM being moved Clean room after PM PFM transferred PM loading into the container

PM loading into the container

*: Engineering Model (EM) was moved in order to make space for the PM Proto Flight Model (PFM) loading. Click here for more about EM.

Press conference

The PM was viewed by the press on April 11 before its departure for the US.

News media

News media Interview Questions and answers

PM PFM (March 18, April 7)

Exterior view
	Overview	Overview	Airlock and windows covered	Marking
Interior view
	View from the hatch side	TV camera above Airlock	Airlock	Zenith side
	Common Berthing Mechanism (Hatch stow configuration)	Coolant connector to Node 2	Nadir side

Future plans

At KSC, the PM will be checked for damage during its transfer, and then MEIT-III will be conducted.

MEIT-III configuration (plan)

The MEIT is conducted on the Earth to confirm the interfaces between International Space Station (ISS) modules before each ISS module launch. The MEIT is conducted three times for a group of modules whose launch dates are near. An interface test will be conducted between Kibo PM and Node 2 during the MEIT-III.

PM will be launched in a space shuttle from KSC following the final launch check completed after MEIT-III.