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NASA, the U.S. National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, has placed an order with Nikon
for the company’s D2XS digital SLR cameras and related equipment for use
on Space Shuttle missions, on the International Space Station (ISS) and in training
sessions.
In addition to 76 D2XS cameras, the order includes 39 of two types
of interchangeable lenses, 64 speedlights, as well as batteries and other accessories.
Other than the replacement of their usual lubricant with a NASA-specified
alternative more suited to the harsh conditions of space, the D2XS units to be
used on spacewalks will differ very little from those sold to the general public.
The equipment will undergo stringent testing by NASA to demonstrate its durability
for use in space before being brought on an actual mission. |
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| Nikon’s high-end digital
SLR camera D2XS will be used on NASA missions |
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The
D2XS, released on the market in June 2006, is Nikon’s high-end model
digital SLR camera. Its many professional features include a 12.4 effective megapixel
image sensor, continuous shooting at 5 frames per second and an ultra-short shutter
release lag of 37 ms.
Nikon has supplied NASA with equipment over
many years, and it also trains the astronauts in how to use its cameras. The company
continues to contribute to NASA’s space program through the performance
and reliability of its technology. |
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Cancer is one of the major causes
of death worldwide. To fight the disease, techniques such as surgery and X-ray
radiation are commonly used. However, these methods can seriously damage healthy
cells near the tumors.
Particle-beam therapy, a new form of radiation therapy, uses particle accelerators
to irradiate tumors by bombarding them directly with protons and carbon ions.
Thanks to its great precision, this method offers several advantages over conventional
therapies. Not only does it spare healthy tissue surrounding the tumor from significant
damage, it also enables treatment of tumors in organs such as the liver and eyes,
which lie close to organs that are easily harmed by radiation. The treatment is
also less physically stressful for the patient, which makes rehabilitation easier. |
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Six of the eight particle-beam therapy
facilities currently used or planned for construction in Japan come from Mitsubishi
Electric—and one more is now on the way. The company recently received
an order for the design of a particle-beam
cancer therapy research system from the Medipolis Medical Research Foundation
in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Mitsubishi Electric is continuing its efforts to develop and offer safe, reliable
and highly accurate particle-beam therapy facilities that make full use of the
superior capabilities of this technology, and that offer a more comfortable treatment
environment for the patient. |
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Today, company business
frequently depends on the Internet or internal LAN communication. This situation
requires efficient system management and strong safeguards against unauthorized
access by insiders. Here, the Mitsubishi Group company IT Frontier,
which supports clients’ IT assets with its wide range of services, has announced
that it will use Aruba Mobility Controllers and Aruba Access Points (AP) in its
high-performance consultation and system integration services. These mobility
network products from Aruba Networks, Inc. will increase security for businesses
when accessing their wireless and wired LANs, including remote access by people
in the field.
Mobility networks provide an environment that
users can access from anywhere and at anytime, so integrated and identity-based
control of IDs is essential. The Mobility Controller can provide businesses with
a unique security policy for each individual user, whether their network is being
accessed from a |
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| Aruba Mobility Controllers and Aruba Access Points are now key components of IT Frontier’s network services |
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user’s desk, a meeting, a customer’s
premises, or even from a user’s home.
This technical tie-in with Aruba Networks Inc. will allow IT Frontier
to provide high-level internal control functions and compliance support for business
users, from drawing up IT strategies and plans to the design, development, operation
and administration of systems—all backed by a solid network and state-of-the
art application security. |
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| On September 14, 2007,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) carried out the very first
of its space launch services, sending the cutting-edge “Kaguya” lunar
probe into space in the largest lunar exploration |
program since NASA’s Apollo
missions in the 1960s and 1970s. While previous launches were performed by the
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), MHI was chosen to perform this one
due to its accumulated know-how of space and rocket technology.
Kaguya, officially named SELENE (SELenological and
ENgineering Explorer) took several years to build. Weighing almost three tons,
the orbiter carries over a dozen scientific instruments. In addition, two smaller
satellites have been included—one to measure the Moon’s gravity field
and the other to relay messages to and from Earth.
As planned, Kaguya began orbiting the Moon on October 4. During
its one-year mission, the probe will gather an extensive amount of lunar data,
revealing
more about the Moon’s composition and history.
MHI intends to use the successful launch of the Kaguya probe to
help it enter the commercial launch market. With a constant need for new satellites,
as well as the renewed interest in the Moon and Mars, the sky may not be the limit
after all. |
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| The Kaguya lunar probe was carried into
space on the Japanese H-2A rocket |
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Futuristic designs and
state-of-the art environmental and safety solutions abounded as Mitsubishi
Motors unveiled three concept cars at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in October
2007.
The compact zero-emission electric vehicle
i MiEV SPORT caught many eyes with
energy-saving features including a rooftop solar panel, use of power-saving LEDs
in the lighting and a regenerative braking system, which uses the car’s
kinetic energy to generate electricity that is fed back into the batteries. Mitsubishi
Motors also used its proprietary Green Plastics, made from a mixture of bamboo
fiber and a plant-based resin, in the components whereever possible. A rear-midship
layout, in which the engine parts shield passengers in a rear collision, and a
specially designed space frame ensure maximum safety. The car also automatically controls driving force, traction and braking
on all four wheels independently for great performance.
The two other cars, Concept-ZT and Concept-cX, also boast excellent
environmental credentials, such as highly fuel-efficient clean diesel engines (2.2 liters and
1.8 liters, respectively) and a high ratio of Green Plastic components. Both also
have four-wheel control of driving force, traction and braking, light yet highly
rigid bodies and a range of innovative safety measures. The Concept-ZT features,
among other things, a collision warning system and a camera system that reads
road markings and keeps the car within its lane.
Concept-cX, a compact SUV, uses a bumper made of several energy-absorbing
materials that together effectively cushion impacts. |
The i MiEV SPORT has
many innovative
energy-saving features |
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Mitsubishi Chemical
Plans to Boost PTMG Production for Asia
Polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMG) is a raw material of Spandex, urethane
and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers. Asian PTMG demand is forecast to grow
by 10% to 20% per year. In response, the company will establish a new PTMG manufacturing
facility in China in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. Start-up is planned for September
2009.
Mitsubishi Chemical aims to become the leading player
in the Asian market for its strategic integrated C4 chemical chain business, which
encompasses products ranging from 1,4-butanediol, used industrially as a solvent
and in the manufacture of certain plastics and fibers, to PTMG. |
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Kirin’s New Premium-Quality
Green Tea Refreshes Japan
In September, Kirin released a new premium-quality green tea across Japan.
The tea, marketed under the Kirin Namacha brand, is made entirely from Japanese
gyokuro, a green tea cultivated by covering the earliest buds for about twenty
days before harvesting to reduce sunlight. This preserves the natural amino acids,
greatly enhancing the flavor.
Through market research, Kirin found that
many consumers wished to see more beverages made from high-quality raw materials,
despite an abundance of “functional” drinks with specific health benefits.
As indicated by this research, the product has been very well received by consumers.
The Namacha Gyokuro 100% is currently only sold in Japan. However, promotion overseas
may follow—after launches in 2002 and 2006, Kirin’s standard Namacha
beverages have become very popular in China and Thailand. |
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NYK Subsidiary
Establishes New Service Base in Pakistan
NYK’s Singapore subsidiary NYK Group South Asia Pte. Ltd. has established
a subsidiary in Pakistan, NYK Line Pakistan (Private) Limited, to meet rapidly
expanding transport demand fuelled by the region’s strong economic growth.
The new company, NYK’s thirteenth local shipping agent in Asia, commenced
operation on August 20, 2007.
Since 1959, NYK has used James
Finlay Limited in Pakistan as its local agency to provide maritime transport services
related to Pakistan, with an emphasis on containerized cargo and automobiles.
Pakistan is increasingly attracting attention as a gateway to Central Asia, and
the annual container handling volume at the Port of Karachi currently exceeds
one million TEUs.* With the new base in Pakistan, NYK will cultivate future demand
for distribution to inland areas.
* TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) describes a vessell’s size by its capacity
to carrystandard 20-foot containers. |
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