Science & Technology News from Japan - International Relations

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Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confédération suisse Confederazione Svizzera Confederaziun svizra Embassy of Switzerland in Japan State Secretariat for Education and Research SER formed into a meshwork with a spacing of several nanometers. Attached along these polymers with a spacing of just 0.1nm are special molecules that grab hold of the heavy metals. High-Capacity Lithium Ion Capacitors (March 27, 2009) JM Energy Corp. will begin mass production of lithium ion capacitors with a 50% larger capacity than its current highest-end product. The unit last fall became the world's first company to mass-produce lithium ion capacitors and now makes up to 25,000 units a month in storage sizes of 500, 1,000 and 2,000 farads. They are used for solar power stations and uninterruptible power supplies. The new model will boast a capacity of 3,000 farads and will be sold to manufacturers of construction equipment and large commercial machinery. It will also have a 50% higher energy density than the products the company now makes. Coalition For Residential Fuel Cells (March 27, 2009) The decision by Toyota Motor Corp. to form a coalition with three other firms for the development of residential fuel cells is certain to reshape competition in the sector. Toyota and the three others -- Kyocera Corp., Osaka Gas Co. and Aisin Seiki Co. -- announced that they will jointly develop residential fuel cells called solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). By forming this agreement, Osaka Gas, which has been co-developing SOFCs with Kyocera since 2004, managed to draw Toyota and Aisin Seiki to its camp. Low-Cost Carbon Alloy Catalyst For Fuel Cells (March 31, 2009) Nisshinbo Industries Inc. plans to begin mass production next year of a carbon-based catalyst that could drive down the price of fuel cell vehicles by roughly 10%, according to sources. The carbon alloy catalyst is designed to replace platinum in fuel cell electrodes. The material offers performance comparable to platinum's, but for only onesixth the cost. It will be shipped to automakers and manufacturers of home-use fuel cells. The high price of platinum has been one of the hurdles to promoting fuel cells. About 100 grams of platinum is used in the electrode catalyst of a fuel cell vehicle. Nisshinbo developed the carbon-based material with Gunma University. Model Project For Bioethanol Made From Rice Straw (March 31, 2009) The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has chosen Akita Prefecture from among applicants as a location to conduct a model project utilizing soft cellulose. The model project aims to conduct verification tests to establish a technology for production of bioethanol made from soft cellulose biomass, such as rice straw and husk that do not compete with food supply. Akita Agriculture Public Corp. will collect and transport the biomass materials, while Kawasaki Plant Systems has been contracted to produce the biofuel and conduct verification tests of the biofuel from fiscal 2008 through 2012. 7. Space Development Longest Total Eclipse Of The Sun This Century (March 05, 2009) The longest total eclipse of the sun this century, which will blanket natural light for several minutes on July 22, will be streamed live and broadcast on TV from Iwojima Island, as part of a project devised by Japanese astronomers. The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is preparing to cover the spectacular natural phenomenon by satellite. It will also use the rare eclipse to study the solar corona. Iwojima Island is one of a handful of spots in Japan from which it is possible to view the total eclipse. The blackout is predicted to last about 5 minutes and 12 seconds when viewed from Iwojima and about 6 minutes and 25 seconds from Akusekijima Island. Astronaut Going To Make People-Suggested Experiments In Space (March 08, 2009) Can eye drops be applied in zero gravity? Is it possible to crawl? Astronaut Koichi Wakata plans to answer these questions and many more submitted by the public by actually trying them during his time on the International Space Station. Wakata, 45, announced late last month 16 such experiments that he will try during his scheduled three months in orbit. He received 1,597 individual experiment suggestions from about 800 people, ranging from primary school children to people in their 70s, after asking the public for ideas. The eye drop experiment is one of the 16 tests that made the cut. Science & Technology News from Japan, Template 2009 • Felix Moesner, Science & Technology Attaché Page 18 of 28
Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Confédération suisse Confederazione Svizzera Confederaziun svizra Embassy of Switzerland in Japan State Secretariat for Education and Research SER Robotic And Manned Moon Mission Planed (March 09, 2009) Japanese astronauts may set foot on the moon for robot-assisted exploration around 2025 to 2030, according to proposals in a draft plan for the nation's first basic space program. The plan, presented to an expert panel by the secretariat of the government's Strategic Headquarters for Space Development, calls for Japan to send an unmanned probe to the moon on its own around 2020 using robot technology, before going on to a manned mission. The headquarters will release the basic space program in May based on the panel's discussions on costs, risks and technology. Robot Satellite To Clean Up Man-Made Trash In Space The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is developing a satellite that could help reduce the growing amount of man-made debris in space. JAXA's satellite has a robotic arm that dangles an electrically conductive cable capable of extending several kilometers. The satellite would fish for debris as it circled the earth. The earth's magnetic pull would slow its orbit and eventually draw it into the atmosphere, where both would burn up. The satellite can only grab one piece of junk at a time. This may seem like a limitation, but JAXA says that focusing on big pieces such as defunct satellites. First Japanese Resident Astronaut At International Space Station The U.S. space shuttle Discovery blasted with a pair of solar wing panels and the first Japanese resident astronaut for the International Space Station. The primary goal of the mission is to deliver the last piece of the station's 11-part external backbone. Discovery's seven-man crew includes Koichi Wakata, 45 will be left behind on the space station. NASA last year delivered and installed the main components of Japan's Kibo laboratory at the orbital complex. It is over 20 years since Japan started this endeavor, in participating in the International Space Station program. Wakata participates in a long-duration flight to fully utilize the Kibo module. (March 16, 2009) (March 16, 2009) First Passenger Jet To Be Made In Japan (March 18, 2009) Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and two other firms plan to invest in the company overseeing the development and marketing of Mitsubishi Regional Jet, the first passenger jet to be made in Japan. Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Rayon Co. aim to forge ties with Mitsubishi Aircraft on components and materials. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. will come away capital increase with a 64% interest in the unit. Toyota Motor Corp. and trading house Mitsubishi Corp. will each emerge with stakes of 10%. Wrongly Positioned Wires At Robotic Arm In Space (March 20, 2009) Astronaut Koichi Wakata has reported a problem with the robotic arm on the International Space Station. Wakata, on his second day aboard the ISS, was operating the robotic arm to bring aboard large solar power generation equipment that had been unloaded from the space shuttle Discovery by other astronauts. Wakata reported to ground control that a camera on the shuttle showed that wires on the robotic arm were in the wrong position. The control center sent an instruction to crew members, who fixed the problem. First Time Diamond Ring Effect Captured From Moon The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) captured unprecedented video footage of the Earth eclipsing the Sun, as seen from the Moon. It was captured via the HDTV camera aboard the KAGUYA (SELENE) lunar explorer. The footage shows the Earth rising over the lunar horizon, with the Sun almost completely hidden behind it. A halo of sunlight is visible around the edge of the planet, and a bright bead of light appears just as the Sun begins to peek from behind, creating the so-called “diamond ring effect.” This is the first time that video of the diamond ring effect has ever been captured from the Moon. (March 20, 2009) Bacteria Killing, Dry Underwear In Space Test (March 23, 2009) Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese astronaut to live on the International Space Station, is testing the clothes, called J-ware and created by textile experts at Japan Women's University in Tokyo. Wakata's clothes are designed to kill bacteria, absorb water, insulate the body and dry quickly. They also are flame-resistant and anti-static, not to men- Science & Technology News from Japan, Template 2009 • Felix Moesner, Science & Technology Attaché Page 19 of 28
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