Date and time: From 11:00 - 11:50 a.m. on Mar. 20 (Thu.), 2014
Venue: JAXA Tokyo Office Presentation Room (B1 floor)
MC: Koji Terada, JAXA Public Affairs Department Director
Opening statement
A significant event after last month's regular conference was the launch of the Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) core observatory by the H-IIA F23 on Feb. 28, and Astronaut Wakata's accession to ISS commander on March 9.
The GPM project is a joint mission of NASA and JAXA, and U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, visited the Tanegashima Space Center not only to witness the launch but also to look around the Space Museum. We were very happy that Ambassador Kennedy called our NASA/JAXA joint operations, "wonderful".
Topics
| I. | Safety, security and disaster prevention |
|---|---|
| II. | Space science frontier |
I. Safety, security and disaster prevention
Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) core observatory launched and operation status
The GPM core observatory's operation is on schedule, and it is currently under preparation for observations. We will release the first images acquired by the observatory as soon as they become available.
Advanced Land Observing Satellite "DAICHI-2" (ALOS-2) to be launched by H-IIA F24
As we earlier reported, the DAICHI-2 will be launched by the H-IIA launch Vehicle No. 24 on May 24 (Sat.), 2014, from the Tanegashima Space Center. I will introduce you to the ALOS-2 project manager, Shinichi Suzuki, later.
II. Space science frontier
Joint research on effect of continuous intake of probiotics on human immune function and stomach microbiota in space
JAXA held a joint news conference with Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. yesterday and we agreed to start a joint research project regarding a study on the effect of probiotics on human immune function and stomach microbiota in a microgravity environment" in April, 2014.
We have learned that astronauts' immune function is gradually deteriorating due to long stays on the International Space Station (ISS.) Controlling this deterioration is one of the challenges for future space exploration missions to travel farther in space. The joint research focuses on restraining the decreasing immune function using a method called "probiotics."
Private sector's trial participation in high-quality protein crystal growth experiment on Kibo
Another utilization of the ISS's Kibo is the newly established "trial use" system. Two private companies decided to participate in the high-quality protein crystal growth experiment on the Kibo through this system. I hope that their participation will contribute to facilitating the private sector's utilization of the Kibo and the development of new medicine.
It will be a year in April since I assumed the JAXA president's post. To conclude this conference, I would like to express my profound gratitude and determination to keep doing my very best for Japan's aerospace development. Your continued understanding and support would be very much appreciated.