The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Japanese rocket takes supplies, robot to space station Posted: TOKYO, Japan (AFP) - Japan launched a cargo-carrying rocket Sunday loaded with supplies for the crew of the International Space Station, along with a small robot meant as a companion for one of the country's astronauts. The H-2B rocket blasted off from the southern island of Tanegashima at 04:48 am local time (1948 GMT Saturday), images broadcast by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) showed. "The HTV4 module has separated from the rocket as scheduled and continues its journey to the ISS," a JAXA spokesman said during the broadcast streamed over the Internet. "Information on its progress will be given later, as and when," he added of the module which is due to dock at the station on August 9. The unmanned rocket carried a cargo transporter filled with drinking water, food, clothing and work supplies for the six permanent ISS crew. The annual mission, which has previously been completed by countries including the United States and Russia, will also pick up waste from the space centre. "The H-2A and H-2B rockets have been successfully launched total 20 times in a row," said Yoichi Kujirai, chief of the aerospace division at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which carried out the project. "We would like to sell this technology to Asia and the Middle East," he said, as quoted by Jiji Press. A small talking robot accompanied Sunday's mission. The android is designed to act as a chatting companion for astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is set to arrive at the space station later this year. Standing at just 34 centimetres (13.4 inches) tall and weighing about one kilogram (2.2 pounds), Kirobo is programmed to communicate in Japanese and keep records of its conversations with Wakata, who is the first Japanese astronaut to command the ISS. The robot's creator Tomotaka Takahashi and his team posted photos taken near the launch pad on Twitter. The black-and-white humanoid robot, wearing bright red boots, displayed its communication skills in June: "Kirobo will remember Mr Wakata's face so it can recognise him when they reunite up in space," Takahashi had told AFP. "He will be the first robot to visit the space station." The robot, which has a wide range of physical motion, will also play a role in some missions, relaying messages from the control room to the astronaut. Sending the android to space is part of a study aimed at seeing how a non-human companion can provide emotional support for people isolated over long periods. Back on earth, twin robot Mirata will be on the lookout for any problems encountered by its electronic counterpart, which was inspired by the legendary animation character Astro Boy. In January, Japan launched two satellites from Tanegashima to strengthen its surveillance capabilities, including keeping a close eye on North Korea after it vowed to launch another nuclear test. One of them was a radar-equipped unit to complete a system of surveillance satellites that would allow Tokyo to monitor any place in the world at least once a day. The other was a demonstration satellite to collect data for research and development. |
| Home makeovers help needy students Posted: TO GET ahead at school, children need somewhere clean and safe to do their homework. The trouble is many lack even this basic amenity. To combat the problem, a new online initiative has been set up that posts pictures of dirty or badly lit study areas in needy households. The public can then pick which household they wish to donate their money or time to in order to help provide home furnishings such as tables or shelves. And when the makeover is complete, a set of "before and after" photographs are posted so contributors can see how much of a difference they have made. The first-of-its-kind project, which does not reveal the families' identities or addresses, was launched last month by the Student Advisory Centre. "By comparing the before and after pictures, donors can see for themselves where their money or labour went," said the youth charity's director, Trevor Xie, 32. "This also helps others to choose which house they would like to help out with." The centre started its Home Improvement Programme last year after seeing how hard it is for families to break out of poverty without a conducive environment for youngsters to study or live in. For example, it brought in a set of bunk beds for Sim Ai Song's two children, aged seven and 10, after finding out that the springs of their old mattress were poking through its thin threads. "We tried to flip the old mattress over so that they could sleep on the other side, but they couldn't," said Sim, a 54-year-old cleaner. "They sleep sounder now." The makeovers leave pupils better equipped for class and can prevent them from wandering around the neighbourhood. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network |
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