Kibo Laboratory: Japanese Experiment Module Development, Launch, and Operations (1992–2024)

1. Japan joins Space Station Freedom planning

   May 9, 1985Labels: Japanese Experiment, NASA

   • ERAU Commons
   • JAXA Kibo

2. Space Station partnership enters force for Japan

   Jan 30, 1992Labels: Japan, Space Station

   • JAXA Space Law

3. ISS Intergovernmental Agreement signed

   Jan 29, 1998Labels: ISS IGA, Japan

   • JAXA Space Law

4. Kibo system-level testing begins at Tsukuba

   Sep 1, 2001Labels: Kibo, Tsukuba Space

   • JAXA Status

5. Kibo data-relay interface test with Kodama

   Jun 3, 2002Labels: Kibo ICS, Kodama DRTS

   • JAXA Status
   • JAXA ICS

6. Kibo logistics module (pressurized) launched on STS-123

   Mar 11, 2008Labels: ELM-PS, STS-123

   • NASA STS 123
   • SpaceRef STS 123

7. Kibo pressurized laboratory launched on STS-124

   May 31, 2008Labels: Pressurized Module, JEM RMS

   • NASA STS 124
   • NASA Elements
   • JAXA PM

8. Kibo Exposed Facility launched on STS-127

   Jul 15, 2009Labels: Exposed Facility, ELM-ES

   • NASA STS 127
   • JAXA ICS

9. Japan’s first HTV resupply mission reaches ISS

   Sep 10, 2009Labels: HTV-1 Kounotori, H-II Transfer

   • JAXA HTV 1
   • MHI HTV

10. First Kibo Exposed Facility payloads installed

    Sep 23, 2009Labels: Exposed Facility, HTV-1

    • JAXA HTV 1
    • CSA Image

11. First CubeSat deployments using Kibo’s J-SSOD

    Oct 4, 2012Labels: J-SSOD, CubeSats

    • AMSAT UK
    • Nanoracks J SSOD

12. UNOOSA–JAXA KiboCUBE program starts

    Jan 1, 2015Labels: KiboCUBE, UNOOSA

    • UNOOSA KiboCUBE
    • JAXA CubeSat

13. Kibo operations mature as a 24/7 ground-controlled facility

    Jan 1, 2016Labels: Kibo Control, JAXA

    • JAXA Tours
    • JAXA Kibo

14. Kibo supports ongoing multinational CubeSat deployments

    May 11, 2018Labels: Kibo, CubeSat deployments

    • JAXA CubeSats
    • JAXA J SSOD

15. Kibo’s 1992–2024 arc: from legal foundation to long-term utilization

    Jan 1, 2024Labels: Kibo, ISS integration

    • JAXA Kibo
    • NASA Elements
    • UNOOSA KiboCUBE