Astronaut Wakata, Mastracchio visit NASA center

Astronaut Wakata, Mastracchio visit NASA center

WASHINGTON, United States - Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata (R) and NASA astronaut Richard Mastracchio (C) visit Goddard Space Flight Center in a Washington suburb on Sept. 17, 2014. The two astronauts viewed the operation of the Global Precipitation Measurement mission that helps improve the accuracy of weather reports.

U.S. Ambassador Kennedy meets press in Kagoshima

U.S. Ambassador Kennedy meets press in Kagoshima

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy talks about the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite during a press conference at the International University of Kagoshima in Kagoshima on Feb. 26, 2014.

GPM observatory

GPM observatory

GREENBELT, United States - Photo shows the control center for the Global Precipitation Measurement Core Observatory unveiled for reporters at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, on Jan. 27, 2014. The GPM observatory will be put into space by Japan's H-2A rocket in February.

Satellite on H-2A rocket

Satellite on H-2A rocket

KAGOSHIMA, Japan - The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveils the main satellite for the Global Precipitation Measurement mission at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 17, 2014. The satellite will be carried by the 23rd H-2A rocket to be launched in February.

Precipitation measurement project

Precipitation measurement project

WASHINGTON, United States - Masahiro Kojima, project manager of the global precipitation measurement project at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, speaks before the GPM mission's main satellite at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, the United States, on Nov. 15, 2013.

Astronaut Wakata, Mastracchio visit NASA center

Astronaut Wakata, Mastracchio visit NASA center

WASHINGTON, United States - Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata (R) and NASA astronaut Richard Mastracchio (C) visit Goddard Space Flight Center in a Washington suburb on Sept. 17, 2014. The two astronauts viewed the operation of the Global Precipitation Measurement mission that helps improve the accuracy of weather reports. (Kyodo)