STS-124 was a space shuttle mission that launched on May 31, 2008. The primary objective was to deliver the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) named Kibo to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission marked a significant step in expanding the capabilities of the ISS for scientific research. The shuttle Discovery carried a crew of seven astronauts, including Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese astronaut to live and work on the ISS. The mission lasted 15 days, during which the crew conducted multiple spacewalks to install and activate the Kibo module, enhancing the station's research facilities.