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The Payload: Kibo
The Japanese science lab KIBO (Japanese for "Hope") will be carried aboard STS-124. It consists of two facilities. The Pressurized Module which is 11.2 metres (36.7 ft) long and 4.4 metres (14.4 ft) in diameter, will allow astronauts to work in a comfortable environment with air composition and pressure similar to Earth's. The Exposed Facility will be a staging area for long-term experiments in open space, as well as Earth and astronomical observations. The Exposed Facility is a unique facility in that it enables astronauts to conduct experiments with direct exposure to space without any modification.
One of the most important experiments planned for KIBO is the
observation of Earth's environment. Today, Earth is faced with serious
environmental problems such as the depletion of the ozone layer, global warming and desertification. KIBO will enable experimenters to study these problems from space, in order to find clues to how to solve them. Scientists will study trace gases that deplete the ozone layer and observe short waves (sub-millimetre waves) emitted by ozone.
Also, the world's largest wide-angle X-ray camera will be mounted on the platform, to make observations of space, examine the phenomena beyond our galaxy, and refine our map of the distribution of the galaxies.
Microgravity experiments conducted in space will produce larger and more uniformly-sized protein crystals, which will help us understand disease mechanisms and develop new medicines. KIBO will also be the site of studies on the influence of microgravity and radiation on plants, animals and humans, and experiments in robotics, communications, and energy.
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