Japanese construction giant, Obayashi Corp. announced on May 11 that it will launch an endurance test jointly with Shizuoka University and Japan Manned Space Systems Corp. of carbon nanotube or CNT, advanced materials currently used in the aerospace industry in the International Space Station, ISS. This will make the first space experiment of materials conducted by Japanese construction companies.

ISS is a manned experimental structure located 400km above the Earth. The Obayashi’s test is a part of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s experiments to seek application of the material to construction. CNT, said to be 20 times stronger than steel will be set in the exposed facility of Japanese Experimental Module called “Kibo” to explore effects of radiation and ultraviolet rays over the period of 1-2 year. Potential applications of CNT include bridge cables and quake-resisting reinforcement materials for structures. (2015/05/12)