Japanese Missions to the International Space Station: Hope from the East (Springer Praxis Books)

Japan has a rich history of human spaceflight, flying in space with both NASA and the Soviet/Russian space agencies over the years. This book tells the story of the JAXA astronauts who have visited the International Space Station and how they have lived on board, helped construct the space laboratory and performed valuable scientific experiments. JAXA has contributed the largest single module to the ISS: the Kibō (Hope) science laboratory with its Logistics Module, Exposed Facility and robot arm. JAXA supplies the station with cargo and supplies on its automated cargo spacecraft, the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), but it is the human endeavour that captures the imagination. From brief visits to six-month expeditions, from spacewalking to commanding the Earth’s only outpost in space, JAXA astronauts have played a vital role in the international project. Extensive use of colour photographs from NASA and JAXA depicting the experiments carried out and the phases of the ISS construction, together with the personal stories of the astronauts’ experiences in space, highlight the crucial part the Japanese have played in human spaceflight. Front Matter ....Pages i-xxiv Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Before ISS (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 2-9 Spacecraft (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 10-18 Front Matter ....Pages 19-19 STS-92 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 20-36 STS-114 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 37-59 STS-123 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 60-76 STS-124 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 77-90 STS-119, Expeditions 18, 19 and 20, STS-127 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 91-130 Soyuz TMA-17, Expeditions 22 and 23 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 131-158 STS-131 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 159-172 Soyuz TMA-02M, Expeditions 28 and 29 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 173-196 Soyuz TMA-05M, Expeditions 32 and 33 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 197-211 Soyuz TMA-11M, Expeditions 38 and 39 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 212-228 Soyuz TMA-17M, Expeditions 44 and 45 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 229-246 Soyuz MS-01, Expeditions 48 and 49 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 247-263 Soyuz MS-07, Expeditions 54 and 55 (John O’Sullivan)....Pages 264-281 Back Matter ....Pages 282-311