All element components of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) "Kibo" are tested at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) before shipping to NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in preparation for launch.

Development Stages

The Kibo development process is divided into three stages: Basic development test stage, Engineering Model (EM) production and test stage, and Proto Flight Model (PFM) production and test stage.

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Design, production and testing

A component will be manufactured and completes series of tests as a flight model. The components will be assembled to form an assembly unit and each assembly unit will then be subjected to an assembly unit test. The assembly units will then be connected to establish Kibo elements, and each element will be subjected to tests in which they will be inspected to prove that they have no problems as flight models.

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Transportation to NASA

Japanese Experiment Module's (Kibo's) elements which have been collected in Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) will be transported to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, USA for launch by the Space Shuttle.

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Checkout and validation at NASA

Since Kibo will be launched by a Space Shuttle, all Kibo elements gathered in Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) will be transferred to Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, USA, where final checkout for launch will be conducted.

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Processing Work at KSC

Kibo components are tested and checked at the Space Station Processing Facility (SSPF) in NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) before their launch.

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