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Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo”

Japan’s first human space facility, Kibo is providing humanity with results that lead to innovation and technological advancement by performing experiments and making observations that can only be attempted in space.

Transfer Vehicle

Transfer Vehicle

Development is currently underway on a new ISS supply vehicle, the HTV-X. In addition to providing the ISS with valuable materials, it is also expected to serve as a platform that paves the way to future technologies in space.

History of "KOUNOTORI" (HTV)

Space Exploration JAXA Astronauts

Life in Space

Here we take a look at the clothing, Japanese Space Food, health management and other aspects that allow astronauts to endure the harsh environment of space.

JP

The View from "Kibo"

Here we present photos taken from "Kibo" and the Cupola (the observation window of the ISS)
the beauty of the earth, natural threats, night scenes sparkling with lights, extraordinary space phenomena,
a dazzling starry sky that can't be seen from earth.

Let's enjoy
spectacular views from space!

Mother earth
Natural threats
The lights of civilization
Extraordinary space phenomena

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01

Mother earth

Our home, the earth.
A planet that is beautiful beyond words

The skin and white garment of the earth

The skin and white garment of the earth

Earth covered with clouds as seen from the International Space Station (2016).

A paradise of animals

A paradise of animals

Madagascar as seen from the Cupola (2018).

A horizon 400 km above the earth

A horizon 400 km above the earth

Africa as seen from the Cupola window (2016).

Which blue do you like?

Which blue do you like?

Coral reefs in the Bahama Archipelago as seen from the Cupola (2018).

The sky during summer vacation

The sky during summer vacation

Kyushu, Shikoku, and Chugoku area, Japan as seen from the Cupola (2016).

A masterpiece of nature

A masterpiece of nature

Lake Victoria as seen from the Cupola (2016).

02

Natural threats

The majestic forces
of nature overwhelm us.

The monster awakens

The monster awakens

Typhoon Lionrock as seen from the Cupola window (2016).

A dance of lightning

A dance of lightning

Lightning as seen from the Cupola (2016).

The mountains breathe and the continents tremble

The mountains breathe and the continents tremble

Sakurajima as seen from the ISS (2013).

A region of snow bathed in light

A region of snow bathed in light

Snow-covered forest in Canada as seen from the Cupola (2017).

A raging sky and an enveloping sea

A raging sky and an enveloping sea

Typhoon Noru (2017).

The magic of nature produces a giant ring

The magic of nature produces a giant ring

Typhoon Neoguri of 2014 as seen from the ISS (2014).

03

The lights of civilization

The lights of night pass below your eyes,
and you sense the life of humanity from space

Cities that never sleep

Cities that never sleep

Night view of Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, Japan as seen from the International Space Station (2016).

’The boot’ of Italy with its sparkling cities at night

"The boot" of Italy with its sparkling cities at night

Lightning and the night scenery of Italy as seen from the ISS (2012).

A flood of light produced by the Nile river

A flood of light produced by the Nile river

City lights of a metropolitan area as seen from the ISS. This image was taken by JAXA Astronaut Kimiya Yui (2015).

Night falls

Night falls

California at night. This image was taken by JAXA Astronaut Kimiya Yui and on his Twitter account (2015).

A time when people are dreaming

A time when people are dreaming

Night view of Kansai and Shikoku regions, Japan as seen from the International Space Station (2016).

A maze of light

A maze of light

Istanbul, Turkey as night as seen from the ISS. This image was taken by JAXA Astronaut Kimiya Yui and on his Twitter account (2015).

The dawn of a new day in Seoul

Opening day of The PyeongChang Olympics 2018

Night view of the Korean Peninsula as seen from the Cupola (2018).

04

Extraordinary space phenomena

The mysteries of space
that enchant astronauts

Sunrise for the 16th time in 24 hours

Sunrise for the 16th time in 24 hours

Sunrise as seen from the International Space Station (2015)

A tear dropped from space

A tear dropped from space

Comet NEOWISE as seen from the ISS (2020).

The earth wrapped in green silk

The earth wrapped in green silk

Aurora as seen from from the ISS (2012).

A competitive performance of a goddess and maiden of the heavens

A competitive performance of a goddess and maiden of the heavens

Venus and Spica as seen from the ISS. This image was taken by JAXA Astronaut Kimiya Yui and on his Twitter account (2015).
*The planet in the center is Venus and the small bluish-white star located diagonally to the upper right is Spica.

The streaming stars

The streaming stars

The Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft and the Progress MS-03 cargo spacecraft as seen from the Cupola (2016).

The arrival of night, enveloped in light

The arrival of night, enveloped in light

The Exposed Facility (EF) and sunset as seen from the International Space Station (2016).

Hide-and-seek of the sun

Hide-and-seek of the sun

The H-II Transfer Vehicle 9 (HTV9) and the solar eclipse shadows (2020).

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The Cupola observation window,
the largest window in space

Many photos and videos have been taken from the Cupola observation window of the ISS observation module. The geometrically-shaped dome is equipped with seven glass windows. The circular window in the center is 79 cm in diameter, and is the largest window ever to grace a spacecraft.

The astronaut KANAI Norishige
viewing the earth from the Cupola ©JAXA/NASA
The astronaut KANAI Norishige from the Cupola ©JAXA/NASA