Japan to continue to be a member of the International Space Station

Japan to strengthen its association with the United States by continuing to be a part of the International Space Station ISS - Japan is the only Asian country in ISS at present. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made the announcement that Japan will remain part of the International Space Station project when it is extended until 2024.
The four-year extension had been was proposed by the US in January 2014 to extend the ISS project beyond 2020 in the hope of using the facility as a foothold for an eventual manned mission to Mars.
Out of the 15 countries involved in the ISS, Russia and Canada have already expressed their intent to remain in the project, while European members are yet to decide. This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 8 December 2015.

Prime Minister Abe has said that his country would implement the schedule for the basic space program and work on an aggressive space strategy.
Being the only Asian member of the ISS project, Japan plans to stick with the extended project. It has outlined a condition that other Asian countries should get a chance to use the Japanese laboratory unit Kibo, which is currently shared with the US.
Moreover, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is also considering providing a next-generation life-support system to the ISS. So far, Japan has invested $7.3 billion toward the ISS project which had been constructed between 1998 and 2011 in an orbit some 400 km above Earth. It is a massive facility that consists of laboratories, living quarters, solar panels and other sections.

(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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Japan’s unmanned cargo vessel HTV-5 on its way to ISS with supplies and 12 mice

It is now the turn of Japan to transport cargo meant for the International Space Station ISS and its robotic cargo vessel is on its way to ISS – it would be a five-day journey to the orbiting lab and its mission is to deliver tons of supplies and experiment gear, including a rodent crew of 12 mice.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 19 August 2015.

It was Japan's fifth H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-5) and it blasted off atop an HII-B rocket from Tanegashima Space Center. The vehicle was built and launched by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Once it arrives at ISS, the astronauts aboard the orbiting lab would begin to offload HTV-5's 6 tons of food, water, scientific gear and other supplies. The mice are a part of experiments that would help researchers understand the effects of microgravity on the bodies of mammals.
HTV-5 was originally supposed to launch on Aug. 16, but had to be postponed due to weather problems. This is not the first delivery mission for HTV spacecraft – they have earlier supplied the space station in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
(Image courtesy wikimediaommons.org)

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(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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