YM COLUMN ARCHIVE

June 5, 2008

Astronaut Hoshide and Phoenix

Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide’s work seems to be going smoothly. The primary objective of the mission this time was to attach, without distortion, Experimental Module of “Kibo” that was carried in the payload bay of the shuttle to the docking-port of International Space Station after having lifted the Module from the payload bay and turned it around to right direction. The joint operation of Astronaut Hoshide and his partner Astronaut Karen Nyberg was just perfect. The works from now on will be done in the Experimental Module. Scheduled next for the flight is Astronaut Koichi Wakata at the end of this year. He will transport Extravehicular Experimental Module.

NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander transmitted the image taken at the foot of the Lander. What looks like a white puddlel appears to be ice. We just cannot wait for the digging to start soon and its analytical result. Human beings might have, at last, captured the “live scene” of Martian waters. If so, possibility is very high for humankind to be standing at the very entrance to the full-scale exploration of lives on Mars.

I’m now in Hamamatsu to attend ISTS (International Symposium on Space Technology and Science). For last three days I’ve been running around to the ten elementary, middle and high schools to give them “lecture delivery service lessons” that was programmed by ISTS. My legs are as stiff as a rod. But I was very much surprised by having so enthusiastically received by children of Hamamatsu.

I welcome your opinions on this column to the following E-mail address.
matogawa@planetary.or.jp

(Translated by The Planetary Society of Japan)