THK’s robot hand went to space on the KONOTORI (HTV3)
July 23rd 2012
On Saturday July 21st 11:06am, H-IIB launch vehicle No.3 took off from Tanegashima Space Center, holding the resupply space craft KONOTORI(HTV3).
The KONOTORI (HTV3) transports to the International Space Station the Japanese Experiment Module “KIBO” as well as Multi-Mission Consolidated Equipment (MCE) for the Exposed Facility experiment platform.
The MCE consist of 5 small unique instruments, each with its own mission. THK played a role in one of these, the EVA Support Robot in the REX-J experiment, developing a robot hand suitable for space utilizing miniature ball-screw actuators.
KONOTORI (HTV-3) docked with the International Space Station performed the REX-J experiment using the THK robot hand.
H-IIB launch vehicle No.3
Tanegashima Space Center (Kagoshima Prefecture)
Provided by JAXA
Left: robot hand. Right: miniature ball-screw actuators built for use in space.
【Technical terms】
International Space Station Japanese Experiment Module “KIBO”.
H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI3"（HTV3）
Multi-mission Consolidated Equipment (MCE)
Robot Experiment on the Japanese Experiment Module (REXJ)
JAXA Homepage
Informational video “Robot experiment on the International Space Station”.
（Youtube）
【Reference page】
What are THK’s projects like? Robot hand R&D. THK recruitment page