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KiboJapanese Experiment Module “Kibo”

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The infinite possibilities of microgravity.
Japan's Kibo to realize the hopes of the world.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a giant human facility which has been assembled in space roughly 400 km above the earth. It is a collaborative international project with 15 participating countries/region from all over the world, including the USA, Russia, Europe, and Canada. Kibo is one part of the ISS, developed by Japan. Here, experiments and observations are carried out utilizing the special microgravity environment of space, where gravity is extremely weak compared to the earth.

Kibo received the Good Design Award 2010 G Mark from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.

Good Design Gold AwardReceived the Good Design Gold Award 2010
Overall view of Kibo is pictured during a spacewalk ©JAXA/NASA
Results by the numbers
Number of days Kibo has operated
Number of satellites deployed from Kibo
338

* As of April 12, 2024

The gifts given to us by Kibo.

  • 01Supporting a healthy society with longevity.
  • 02Contributing to a prosperous, safe, and secure life.
  • 03Improving technologies in manufacturing
  • 04To unexplored space.
  • 05Pioneering new fields.
What you can do on “Kibo”

Kibo is the largest module of the ISS.
It is composed of four main elements.

Overall view of Kibo is pictured from Space Shuttle Atlantis after undocking ©JAXA/NASA

Kibo is an experiment module developed by Japan. It is Japan's first manned facility enabling long-term activities by astronauts, and boasts the largest size of any component of the ISS. Kibo is consisted of two main experiment facilities, internal one called Pressurized Module (PM) and external one called Exposed Facility (EF); storage space called Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section (ELM-ES); and a robotic arm called Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEMRMS) used for experiments and other tasks.

Major Components of "Kibo"

Space and earth.
Together in spirit, even when far away.

Ground personnels maintain conditions for astronaut activities, and monitor experiment plans and statuses. The Kibo module of the ISS is managed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by the Tsukuba Space Center back on earth.

Operation of "Kibo"

Three Japanese astronauts participated the assembly of Kibo in space

The Japanese astronauts HOSHIDE Akihiko during EVA and Kibo ©JAXA/NASA

Kibo’s elements were launched by three Space Shuttle missions and assembled with the ISS in space.

The Japanese astronauts DOI Takao, HOSHIDE Akihiko, and WAKATA Koichi participated in the assembly, startup, and testing of Kibo developed by Japan.

Assembly Sequence

Kibo assembly missions and Japanese astronauts flights

Unless specified otherwise, rights to all images belong to ©JAXA