A Space Shuttle was Launched on May 16, 2009

Discovery which is a space shuttle launched at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 16, 2009. Kouichi Wakata who is a Japanese astronaut is getting into Discovery. Seven people is getting into Discovery. Kouichi Wakata is going to stay at the International Space Station about four months. It is first time as Japanese.
His space flight was third time. He is staying in the International Space Station for a longer time than other Japanese.


The International Space Station is 400 kilometers away from ground. The International Space Station was made from fifty countries' corporation such as America, Japan and Europe. The International Space Station's size is as same as soccer stadium.





He is going to examine a function, do a test, put together outside experience plat form at laboratory in-flight. For example, he is going to examine that if people is in space long time, what king of influence for people.
In addition, the International Space Station is not completion yet, so he is going to fit up the International Space Station with a solar battery panel to operate arm of a robot. He is very good to operate arm of a robot. A solar panel will make electricity to move the International Space Station, so it seems to increase the number of people who lives in the International Space Station .

He is not come back to the earth yet because NSA postponed the launching of Endeavour which takes back to Kouichi Wakata. He will come back soon.