Page 214 - International Space Station Benefits for Humanity, 3rd edition.

experiment concepts, and has successfully continued students commented about this unique experience,
the program ever since. as follows:
With the belief that educational activities on the space “The experiments were amazing. Everything in space
station serve to benefit all of humanity, JAXA opened is so different from what we thought. It was nice to
the Try Zero-G program to Asia-Pacific nations in learn about many different experiments and conditions
2011 under the framework of the Asia-Pacific Regional in zero gravity, which could be applied in various fields
Space Agency Forum. This program features the such as physics and astrophysics. Today’s activities
implementation of student-proposed physics at JAXA’s Tsukuba Space Center were very exciting.
experiments on the space station by Japanese JAXA did a wonderful job showing us how their ground
astronauts Satoshi Furukawa in 2011, Akihiko Hoshide operations support the space experiments. We learned
in 2012, Koichi Wakata in 2014, Kimiya Yui in 2015, many things through the activities with friends from
and Takuya Onishi in 2016. Eleven countries— Asian countries who share a mutual interest in space.
Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, We were so inspired!”
New Zealand, Pakistan, The Philippines, Singapore, Asian Try Zero-G marks a major step for JAXA toward
Thailand, and Vietnam—have joined the Asian Try playing a key role in enhancing Kibo utilization among
Zero-G program series.
Asia-Pacific nations, and aiming to share the benefits
On February 13, 2018, astronaut Norishige Kanai, with them.
who was onboard the space station for Expeditions
54/55, conducted interesting physics experiments
under eight themes, including the movement of a HUNCH about Student Success
paper boomerang, stability of a paper/wooden plane, in Engineering?
and behavior of a spinning ring. The students could Several young science, technology, engineering and
experience such experiments under a microgravity mathematics (STEM) professionals who are entering
environment for the first time. In the JAXA Mission the workforce right now are likely to have been
Control Room, the 19 prospective scientists from motivated to enter those fields by the High school
Asian countries were glued to the live downlink students United with NASA to Create Hardware
screen showing astronaut Kanai’s performance, (HUNCH) Program. HUNCH is a nationwide
and they enthusiastically communicated with the instructional partnership between NASA, high
astronaut. After observing the space experiments school students and intermediate/middle school
conducted in the microgravity environment, the
students to build cost-effective hardware and soft
goods both for use on the space station and for the
training of NASA astronauts and flight controllers.
In existence since 2003, the popular HUNCH Program
has grown to include 1,750 students in 77 schools
across 24 states. Trainees receive a hands-on
opportunity that helps them strengthen their skills
in STEM.
Students that participate in HUNCH learn to use and
apply three-dimensional software, drafting, prototyping,

In existence since 2003, the
popular HUNCH Program has
grown to include 1,750 students
Asian students watching onboard experiments
from the JAXA Mission Control Room. in 77 schools across 24 states.
Image credit: JAXA

200