Good Design Gold Award 2010
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Award Number :10D06001

Award-winning item :

Space Experiment Facility ["Kibo" Japanese Experiment Module]

Company :

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Producer :

Kuniaki Shiraki

Director :

Fumiya Tsutsui

Designer :

"Kibo" Japanese Experiment Module Project Team

Description

The "Kibo" Japanese Experimental Module is part of the International Space Station being built by 15 countries (Japan, the US, Russia, Canada and several European countries) in Earth orbit. It was completed in July of last year. "Kibo" makes it possible to provide an infrastructure for performing experiments, and to supply, recover and repair experimental equipment and biological specimens. These processes are something that Japan has not ever achieved in its unmanned artificial satellites up to now, and the "Kibo" will help innovate and expand methods for utilization of space. The "Kibo" has improvements to increase astronaut operability and prevent incorrect operation, and provides system automation to reduce work burdens; it has an interior with white and blue base tones and its design is easy on the ears and eyes. The facility is formaldehyde-free and high-airtight offers excellent safety and care for astronauts with its strong airtightness.

Evaluation

"The wide variety of experiments on the "Kibo" Japanese Experiment Module that we saw televised live from space included explanations of physical phenomena that made use of the low-gravity environment and explanations of the effects of radiation and low gravity on biological phenomena, using plants and cells. Seeing these experiments, I recall the excitement of doing chemistry experiments as a child. The results of those experiments in space are replete with oddities that would be inconceivable on Earth, and make even adults feel stirrings of wonder and curiosity. The designers of "Kibo" strove for the highest possible degrees of durability, safety, operability, and air tightness and thought up new materials and new construction methods for purposes such as protection from meteors. Its pared down, functional, realistic shape is quite beautiful. The Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" is a facility for integrating knowledge that encompasses Earth's environmental problems. American and Soviet facilities, such as Apollo and Soyuz, have taken the leading roles in developing outer space, but at present, 15 countries around the world are cooperating in the construction of facilities for the International Space Station in Earth orbit, and the recent successes of Japanese astronauts and the development of "Kibo" and its accomplishments have been exceptional. It brings dreams and hopes to a weary and lethargic society in Japan, and it is even good design on a cosmic scale, reflecting the spirit of this era."

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