Tsukuba Space Center

After botanical garden, we visited the Tsukuba Space Center at Japan Space Agency (JAXA). Had the opportunity to see life size Japanese rocket HIIB which was used to transport many satelits to the space. The exhibition includes life size rocket engine and life size space laboratory – Japanese module for ISS, which was sent to ISS last February. Had the opportunity to get into the module… minus the zero gravity… Many life size satelits were also exhibited… Japanese astronouts pictures… and space station test building. That is where all those ISS space station labs built by Japanese being assembled and tested… before actually transported to the space.. and.. there was one corner where full scale mock up model of Russian Soyuz was exhibited together with the real re-entry Soyuz bion capsule… looked charred… and burnt.. on the outside surface (picture)… remember the controversial proposal of buying the re-entry capsule of Soyuz TMA-10 ? the re-entry capsule of Sheikh Muzaffar… Japanese keep theirs in this space center… they apparently sent their astronout using Soyuz… paid the full expenses and had the right to keep the capsule…

Tsukuba Botanical Garden

Last Sunday, we joined the Tokai International Association trip to Tsukuba… visited the botanical garden. The garden had a few glasses houses… growing many species of flowers and plants from all around the world.. including banana tree – pisang kapas… heh.. heh.. and around the garden… there were many plants and flowers species of Japanese origin including the famous cheery blossom… bunga sakura

Tokai Annual Fireworks Show

Last weekend.. had the opportunity to watch the Tokai fireworks show near a bridge in Tokai Village.. had to take 100 yen bus to the location. It was very crowded… and festival like… Japanese and foriegners mingled around in cold autumn night. One local said this year was slightly a bigger show compared to last few years.. and Tokai village had the privillage to have such event.. since the local authority had the enough fund to do so… much of the money come from all the power companies… coal power plants or nuclear power plants surrounding the village.. the show lasted in 1 whole hour..