Abstract
A micro-gravity working group at the Japan-US Science, Technology and Space Application Program (JUSTSAP) has sponsored two micro-gravity projects on a STS-107 shuttle mission, which were named asJapan-US Space Protein Crystal (JUSPRO) and JUSTSAP Space Technology and Research Students (JUSTSAP S*T*A*R*S) , respectively. These projects were planned at the JUSTSAP Workshop '99 for achieving the identification and promotion of greater cooperation between Japan and US mutual activities after the successful project of JUSTSAP (Japan-US Thermal Science Acceleration Project) on a STS-95 mission. The flight of STS-107 was first scheduled in the beginning of2001. Due to orbiter maintenance requirements, technical issues with the shuttle fleet and International Space Station priorities, the STS-107 mission has experienced 19 delays over the past two and a half years. Although frustrating to our customers, this critical research mission was sure to have numerous scientific discoveries. With the success of the STS-95 JUSTSAP-sponsored acceleration measurement experiment, JUSTSAP, and these two research projects on STS-107 , JUSPRO andJUSTSAP S*T*A*R*S, the presentJUSTSAP forum of the micro-gravity working group could be poised to take advantage of future space research opportunities.
