JAXA Astronaut Activity Report

International Space Station (ISS) Expedition Operations Training in Russia

Astronauts Koichi Wakata, Soichi Noguchi and Satoshi Furukawa participated in a training program for ISS long-duration missions. This training was held at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Russia.

Astronauts Wakata and Noguchi received training on the system operations of the modules that constitute Russian segment of the ISS. During the training, they learned the structural configurations, inboard layouts, and onboard communications system of the Russian modules. The training also included a session to simulate a flight on the Soyuz TMA spacecraft. Using the Soyuz TMA mockup and centrifugal accelerator, the trainees experienced the gravitational forces they would feel during Soyuz re-entry.

Astronaut Furukawa participated in a training session on the system operations of the Soyuz TMA spacecraft, including its onboard computer, power supply, radio communication control, and thermal control systems.

In May 2008, astronaut Noguchi was assigned as an ISS Expedition 20 crew member, and astronaut Furukawa was assigned as his backup. Astronauts Noguchi and Furukawa are receiving training for the system operations of the ISS modules and experiment operations, as well as training for flying on the Soyuz TMA spacecraft.

Astronaut Wakata is scheduled to stay aboard the ISS for approximately three months during 2008 and 2009, and astronaut Noguchi for approximately 6 months during 2009 and 2010.

	I will be staying aboard the ISS for six months starting late next year. I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone for their great support. I will fly and return aboard the Soyuz spacecraft this time. During my stay aboard the ISS, I will be conducting scientific experiments, Extravehicular Activities (EVAs), and robot arm manipulation. I am determined to make every possible effort along with astronaut Furukawa, who is my back up, and the Kibo operations control team, so that the achievements of Kibo will contribute to the lives of fellow Japanese people.

Columbus training at ESA

Astronauts Wakata and Noguchi participated in training related to the ISS European experiment facility Columbus in preparation for the Expedition 18 mission.

They received brief lectures on the experiments planned to be performed during Expedition 18 and received hands-on training for operating the European Drawer Rack (EDR) and Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL).

1J/A Mission Debriefing

The STS-123 (1J/A) Mission crew, including astronaut Doi, who successfully completed the 1J/A (STS-123) mission, are participating in a series of mission debriefings at NASA and JAXA.

Debriefing sessions enable the crew to share information with other astronauts, the training team, flight directors, managers, and other teams involved in the mission, for isolating potential issues in the training or mission itself, and for reflecting such into the future missions.

The debriefing sessions were held at JAXA to share the information on the first delivery of Kibo module components with the parties involved in the Kibo development and operations. The information was incorporated into the preparation for the second mission, 1J (STS-124). Astronaut Doi reported the tasks he carried out during the mission; his suggestions will be incorporated in future missions.