Astronauts practice operating space laboratory at Tsukuba
February 28, 2006Two Japanese astronauts practiced using the functions of Japan's first manned space laboratory called Kibo, which is scheduled to become part of the International Space Station, in simulation training on Tuesday at Tsukuba Space Center in Ibaraki Prefecture. Satoshi Furukawa, 41, and Akihiko Hoshide, 37, who were both certified as U.S. space shuttle mission specialists recently, practiced in training at facilities of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency that was open to the press.
70 small whales washed ashore on Pacific coast in Chiba Prefecture
February 28, 2006About 70 melon-headed whales beached on the Pacific coast in Chiba Prefecture on Tuesday afternoon, local officials said. More than 50 people including local residents, surfers and officials from a nearby maritime amusement park struggled to push the stranded whales back into the sea from the beach in the town of Ichinomiya.