Kotai (Solid) - Node 02. Its purpose is to provide storage space for experiments and supplies.
The
Kurai (Dark) module (not fully textured yet). It will be berthed to the opposite side from
Kotai.
The pressurized section is about the same size as Kibo's Experiment Logistics Module.
Just a reminder: the names of the six pressurized modules that attach to the core are supposed to be based on the extra "voicebanks" of
"Miku Append", which is basically an expansion pack for the singing synthesis software. The additional modules are "appended" to the core. So the functions of the modules try to loosely fit those names.
Originally, I was going to have a telescope on this module (to gaze at the "darkness" of space). Forum Orbiter Italia's now-defunct
Gaia space station project was going to have a large telescope as well. Then I discovered that
a space station is very bad for telescope observations because of vibrations and other issues. So, it was changed to a magnetic spectrometer like the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Magnetic_Spectrometer"]AMS[/ame], which is designed to investigate dark matter, antimatter, etc. Being about 9.39 meters long also provides some balance with the 10.39 meter-long
Kotai module.
But now, I'm worried that the module looks too much like [ame="http://orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=5758"]this[/ame].