Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC) and landing on Cape Canaveral (KSC), Runway 15.

STS-123 (ISS-1J/AJEM ELM PS /SLP-D1) delivered the first module of the Japanese laboratory, Japanese Experiment Module (Kibo), and theCanadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, (SPDM)Dextre robotics system to the station. The mission duration was 16 days and 14 hours, and it was the first mission to fully utilize the Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS), allowing space station power to augment the shuttle power systems. The mission set a record for a shuttle's longest stay at theISS.
Expedition 16Flight Engineer LéopoldEyharts, who traveled to the space station on theSTS-122 mission, returned home with theSTS-123 crew.GarrettReisman joined theExpedition 16 crew, serving with Commander PeggyWhitson andFlight Engineer YuriMalenchenko. GarrettReisman returned home withSTS-124.

The first component of the Japanese experiment module,Kibo, flew to the International Space Station (ISS) after 23 years of development efforts by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency -JAXA. Japan's role in the space station program is to develop and contribute the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM), logistics vehicles, and the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), using accumulated Japanese technologies.
Kibo's contributions are not strictly limited to space utilizations. The actual development and operation ofKibo has great significance in the continued expansion of Japan's accumulated technologies. Acquisition of advanced technologies required to support human life in space enhances both the level of Japan's scientific and technological skill, and contributes to other worldwide space development activities in the future exploration.
Kibo means "hope". It is Japan's first human-rated space facility.Kibo will be the largest experiment module on the space station, accommodating 31 racks in its pressurized section, including experiment, stowage, and system racks.Kibo is equipped with external facilities that can accommodate 10 exposed experiment payloads.
Kibo is a complex facility that enables several kinds of specialized functions. In total,Kibo consists of: Pressurized Module (JEM PM) and Exposed Facility (JEM EF), a logistics module attached to both theJEM PM andJEM EF and a Remote Manipulator System - Japanese Experiment Module Remote Manipulator System (JEM RMS).
TheKibo elements will be delivered to the space station by three space shuttle flights.STS-123 will deliver theJEM ELM PS,STS-124 will deliver theJEM PM andJEM RMS, andSTS-127 will deliver theJEM EF and the Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section (JEM ELM-ES).
For each of the three missions, aJAXA astronaut will fly to the station to assist with the assembly, activation, and checkout of theKibo component. Astronaut TakaoDoi is assigned as aNASA mission specialist for theSTS-123 mission, astronaut AkihikoHoshide is assigned as a mission specialist for theSTS-124 mission, and astronaut KoichiWakata is assigned as a space stationFlight Engineer forExpedition 18.
Kibo'sJEM ELM PS will be launched to the space station aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on theSTS-123/1J/A mission, which is the first of the threeKibo-relatedISS assembly flights. TheJEM ELM PS is aKibo storage facility that provides stowage space for experiment payloads, samples, and spare items. The pressurized interior of theJEM ELM PS is maintained at one atmosphere, thus providing a shirt-sleeve working environment. The crew will be able to freely move between theJEM ELM PS and the main experiment module, called the Pressurized Module. On the space station,Kibo is the only experiment facility with its own dedicated storage facility.
When theJEM ELM PS is launched aboard the space shuttle, it will be used as a logistics module for transporting eightKibo subsystems and experiment racks to the space station. Once theJEM ELM PS is on orbit, it will be used as aKibo stowage compartment. Maintenance tools, experiment samples, and other spare items will all be stored inside theJEM ELM PS. The volume of theJEM ELM PS is less than that of theJEM PM, and up to eight racks can be housed in theJEM ELM PS.
TheJEM ELM PS will be attached to the zenith port on top of theHarmony Node 2 module onSTS-123's fourth flight day. TheJEM ELM PS will remain attached to theHarmony module until theKiboJEM PM is delivered to theISS on the following space shuttle mission,STS-124. The final location of theJEM ELM PS will be on the top port of theJEM PM.

Dextre is the third and final component of the Mobile Servicing System developed by Canada for theISS. The two-armed Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator, known as "Dextre", complements the mobile base and the robotic armCanadarm2 already installed and operating on the station. These make theMSS a vital tool for external station maintenance. With advanced stabilization and handling capabilities,Dextre can perform delicate human-scale tasks such as removing and replacing small exterior components. Operated by crew members inside the station or by flight controllers on the ground, it also is equipped with lights, video equipment, a stowage platform, and three robotic tools.

On flight day 2 the crew used a 50 ft (15 m) laser-tipped boom to inspect its wings and nose for any sign of launch damage. The inspection has been standard procedure ever since the 2003Columbia accident. Flight director Mike Moses said a quick look at the images the astronauts beamed down to Earth revealed no signs of trouble.

Rendezvous began with a precisely timed launch of the shuttle on the correct trajectory for its chase of the International Space Station. A series of engine firings over the next two days brought Endeavour to a point about 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) behind the station.
Once there, Endeavour started its final approach. About 2.5 hours before docking, the shuttle's jets were fired during what is called the terminal initiation burn. Endeavour covered the final miles to the station during the next orbit.
As Endeavour moved closer to the station, the shuttle's rendezvous radar system and trajectory control sensor gave the crew range and closing-rate data. Several small correction burns placed Endeavour about 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) below the station.
Commander DominicGorie, with help from Pilot Gregory H.Johnson and other crew members, manually flew the shuttle for the remainder of the approach and docking.
DominicGorie stopped Endeavour about 600 feet (182.9 meters) below the station. Once he determined there is proper lighting, he maneuvered the shuttle through a nine-minute back flip called the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver orR-bar Pitch Maneuver (RPM). That allowed the station crew to take as many as 300 digital pictures of the shuttle's heat shield.
Station crew members will use digital cameras with 400 mm and 800 mm lenses to photograph Endeavour's upper and bottom surfaces through windows of theZvezda Service Module. The 400 mm lens provided up to 3-inch (7.6 centimeters) resolution and the 800 mm lens up to 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) resolution. The photography was one of several techniques used to inspect the shuttle's thermal protection system for possible damage. Areas of special interest include the tiles, the reinforced carbon-carbon of the nose and leading edges of the wings, landing gear doors and the elevon cove. The photos were downlinked through the station's Ku-band communications system for analysis by systems engineers and mission managers.
When Endeavour completed its back flip, it was back where it started, with its payload bay facing the station.
DominicGorie then flew Endeavour through a quarter circle to a position about 400 feet (121.9 meters) directly in front of the station. From that point he began the final approach to dock at thePressurized Mating Adaptor 2 at the forward end of theHarmony module.
The shuttle crew members operate laptop computers processing the navigational data, the laser range systems and Endeavour's docking mechanism.
Using a video camera mounted in the center of the Orbiter Docking System, DominicGorie lined up the docking ports of the two spacecraft. He paused 30 feet (9.14 meters) from the station to ensure proper alignment of the docking mechanisms.
He maintained the shuttle's speed relative to the station at about one-tenth of a foot per second (3 centimeters per second), while both Endeavour and the station were moving at about 17,500 mph (28,163 km/h). He kept the docking mechanisms aligned to a tolerance of three inches (7.6 centimeters).
When Endeavour made contact with the station on March 13, 2008, preliminary latches automatically attached the two spacecraft. The shuttle's steering jets were deactivated to reduce the forces acting at the docking interface. Shock absorber springs in the docking mechanism dampened any relative motion between the shuttle and station.
Once motion between the shuttle and the station had stopped, the docking ring was retracted to close a final set of latches between the two vehicles.
Docking occurred at 03:49UTC and the hatches between the two spacecraft were opened at 05:36UTC on.

GarrettReisman became a station crew member with the exchange of his customSoyuz seatliner with that of LéopoldEyharts, who joined the shuttle crew for his flight home.

ThefirstEVA by RichardLinnehan and GarrettReisman occurred on March 14, 2008 (7h 01m) to prepare theJEM ELM PS for its removal from the shuttle's payload bay. Later that day, the Japanese facility was installed on top of theHarmony module. However, the Spacelab pallet carrying the SPDM would not power up. Engineers on the ground tried a software patch, though later suspected a design flaw inDextre's temporary power cable caused the issue.

Crew members on board Endeavour used a robotic arm to remove the Japanese Logistics Module - Pressurized Section (JLP) from Endeavour's cargo bay and attach it to the space station. The JLP was attached to its interim location on the Harmony module at 08:06UTC.

On March 15, 2008 the crew spent time outfitting the Japanese Logistics Module, transferring supplies and equipment into it from space shuttle Endeavour. The station’s arm operators grappled the Canadian-builtDextre Friday at 01:59UTC.Canadarm2 successfully powered upDextre 11 minutes later. Mission Specialists RichardLinnehan and MichaelForeman spent the night in the station’sQuest Airlock in preparation for the second spacewalk of the mission.

ThesecondEVA by RichardLinnehan and MichaelForeman was performed on March 16, 2008 (7h 09m) to assemble Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (SPDM), namedDextre by removing covers and installing arm components on its main body. The spacewalk focused onDextre and included installation of its two arms. RobertBehnken provided intravehicular support while GregoryJohnson and GarrettReisman operatedCanadarm2.

On flight day 7 the crews continued outfitting the Japanese Logistics Module – Pressurized Section, transferring supplies and equipment into it from Endeavour, as well as configuring racks inside the module. The crews tested the brakes in the robotic system’s arms. One of the joints in the arm seemed to be operating right on the required margin. Engineers expressed confidence that this issue would be resolved.

ThethirdEVA was conducted by RichardLinnehan and RobertBehnken on March 17, 2008 (6h 53m) to completeDextre assembly by installing a tool platform and tool holster assembly. GregoryJohnson and GarrettReisman ranCanadarm2 to help the spacewalkers stow replacement gear and install a materials experiment and aDextre platform for spare parts.

On March 18, 2008Dextre was attached to a power and data grapple fixture located on the U.S. laboratoryDestiny.Canadarm2 grabbed the pallet that securedDextre during its journey to the orbital outpost and returned the pallet to space shuttle Endeavour’s payload bay for the trip back to Earth.

ThefourthEVA by RobertBehnken and MichaelForeman occurred on March 20, 2008 (6h 24m) to evaluate the Shuttle Tile Ablator-54, or STA-54, material and a tile repair ablator dispenser for use as a shuttle thermal protection system repair technique. The Tile Repair Ablator Dispenser, or T-RAD, is similar to a caulk gun. They used TRAD to mix and squirt out the STA-54 material into holes in several demonstration tiles. The repaired samples were returned to Earth for extensive testing.

Thefifth and finalEVA was performed by RobertBehnken and MichaelForeman on March 22, 2008 (6h 02m) to move the Orbiter Boom Sensor System, the 50 ft. (15 meters) extension of the shuttle's robotic arm, to a temporary location on the station's main truss or backbone. TheOBSS was left on the station because shuttle Discovery doesn't have enough room in its cargo bay to carry both the boom and the large Japanese pressurized module on theSTS-124 mission. The spacewalkers also installed a new trundle bearing assembly in the starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint to allow the joint to rotate a little bit more if necessary. ThatSARJ has had limited ability for several months, and metallic debris has been found inside it. Additional spacewalk tasks included inspecting theSARJ and collecting debris samples.

At undocking, hooks and latches were opened and springs pushed Endeavour away from the station. The shuttle's steering jets were shut off to avoid any inadvertent firings during the initial separation.
Once Endeavour was about two feet (61 centimeters) from the station and the docking devices were clear of one another, GregoryJohnson turned the steering jets on and manually flew Endeavour in a tight corridor as the shuttle moved away from the station.
Endeavour moved away about 450 feet (137.2 meters). Then GregoryJohnson began to fly the shuttle around the station and its new laboratory. Once Endeavour completed 1.5 revolutions of the station, GregoryJohnson fired Endeavour's jets to leave the area.

Flight controllers gave a no-go on de-orbit for the first landing opportunity at 23:05UTC (19:05 EDT), due to unfavorable weather conditions at the Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. Weather conditions were acceptable for the second landing opportunity, planned for 00:39UTC March 27, 2008 (20:39 EDT March 26, 2008). The landing occurred at the Shuttle Landing Facility, and was the sixteenth night landing of the Space Shuttle atKSC, 22^nd Shuttle night landing overall. Coincidentally, this mission also began with a night launch.

GarrettReisman landed on June 14, 2008 at 15:15:17.014UTC withSTS-124.