Space Environment Utilization/Development Technology
New Value Creation through Collaboration between Chiyoda Businesses
Chiyoda promotes the utilization of our space environment through the development of experimental and telecommunication equipment installed in the Japanese Experimental Module "Kibo" of the International Space Station.
Our activities are expanding to the next generation of private space stations in low Earth orbit, utilizing the lunar surface and applying ‘spin-offs’ from space technology on Earth in the next era of space development.
Capabilities
Chiyoda's space environment utilization/development technology business consists of the following three core activities:
Space Experiment Support
Chiyoda is developing telecommunication equipment, image/data transmission and recording equipment and their power supply devices for installation in the International Space Station, while promoting the utilization and installation of overseas technology and consumer products with state-of-the-art technology.
Right: Image Processing Unit (IPU)
Left: Layer 2 Ethernet Hub and Multiplexer (LEHX)
Space Science
Chiyoda is developing life science experimental equipment, such as cell culture and plant growth, in the International Space Station, while increasing astronaut safety and decreasing their experimental work load by remotely monitoring experimental conditions and simplifying sample collection and analysis.
Right: Cell Experiment Unit (CEU)
Left: Plant Experiment Unit (PEU)
Future Use
Chiyoda is developing and applying space environment utilization results to ground infrastructure, including in life science, as social infrastructure supporting the next generation.
Automated Cell Culture System
The iPS cell culture system for research institutions applies automation technology developed for space experiments. Fully automatic subculture and incubation is achieved by using the special cartridge of a culture vessel.
Automated culture system for murine induced pluripotent stem cells, H Koike, K Kubota, K Sekine, T Takebe, R Ouchi, YW Zheng, Y Ueno, N Tanigawa, H Taniguchi, BMC Biotech, 2012
Lunar Water Resource Exploration and Utilization
Through an industry-academia collaboration initiative, Chiyoda is advancing the study of a ‘Lunar Exploration and Test Drilling Module’ to facilitate the commercial use of lunar water resources.
