"The Lexus of Space Labs" Arrives at Space Station

"The Lexus of Space Labs" Arrives at Space Station

"The Lexus of Space Labs" Arrives at Space Station


Space Shuttle Discovery has docked to the International Space Station and is ready to deliver its precious cargo, a full size pressurized Japanese space laboratory named "Kibo." One of Kibo's smaller components (the "closet") is already docked to the station, but now with the addition of the main pressurized module the multi-part Japanese research complex will expand the space station to 11,000 cubic feet, the equivalent of a five bedroom house.

After a successful launch on Saturday, Space Shuttle Discovery's crew is already a few hours into the first of three space walks to install the new lab. The first spacewalk should be complete by the end of the day.

Kibo, means 'hope' in Japanese, but Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly gave it a second name, "the Lexus of space labs". At 37 feet long, it is bigger then both the NASA and the European Space Agency labs and has its own hatch for tending to experiments outside on its "porch" with a pair of robot arms (to be delivered on a future shuttle mission). It also has an additional module docked to the top of it to act as a "closet".

"It's usually the other way around, isn't it? Japanese products should be smaller, but this time it's the other way around," said Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide.

The Kibo module is a full 9 feet longer then the US Harmony Lab and 14 feet longer then the European Columbus lab. But given that we are all in this together I am sure everyone can agree that just having more lab space on orbit for the crew to utilize, where ever it is, is a fabulous addition to our international orbiting outpost. Besides because this one is newer maybe flat screen TV hook ups and WiFi will be standard.

It's almost like an episode of "Extreme Makeover: Outer Space Edition."
STS-124 Astronauts Conduct First Spacewalk [NASA]
Introducing Kibo, The Lexus of Space Labs [redOrbit]

See Also:

Photo courtesy JAXA