Kibo Utilization Strategy

In recent years, Japan's space policy has shifted dramatically, with accelerating efforts toward the Post-ISS era and signing of an implementation agreement between Japan and the U.S. on lunar surface exploration. This has created a major change in the environment surrounding human space technology development. To maximize Japan's R&D achievements in response to this changing environment, and to strategically and systematically promote Kibo utilization, JAXA revised the Kibo Utilization Strategy under the Expert Committee on Kibo Utilization promotion, an external advisory body to the Director and the General manager of the JAXA Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate, and issued the 4th edition in March 2024.

*The original version of this strategy was formulated under the same committee in October 2018.

This strategy will be reviewed, if necessary, in response to changes in the circumstances surrounding “Kibo" and the progress of its utilization.
In the 4th edition, updates were made to the 3rd edition (issued 2020) responding to Japan's declaration to participate in the ISS operation extension through 2030 and the 2023 revision of the Basic Plan on Space Policy, which clarified the vision and initiatives for Post-ISS activities.

• Kibo Utilization Strategy/ "Hope (Kibo)" becomes "Reality" tomorrow, Agenda 2030 (4th Edition Summary, English) [13.7 MB]PDF