| Basic Training Report,
June 1999 |
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Primary training subjects of June |
In June, the astronaut candidates (ASCANs Furukawa, Hoshide, and Sumino)
attended aerospace engineering lectures on navigation, guidance, and control,
communications, etc.. They also participated in a facility tour of Tsukuba
Space Center, hands-on technical training, and swimming training. Since
water survival training in Russia is scheduled in July, they received an
intensive course on Russian language in the end of June.
The Tsukuba Space Center Facility Tour, hands-on technical training, and
swimming training will be reported here.
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Tsukuba Space Center Facility Tour |
The three ASCANs took a look at actual satellite operations and Tsukuba
Space Center facilities related to the lectures they have received. The
facilities included the Research and Development Building, tracking and
control facilities for satellites, vacuum chamber and vibration test facilities,
a facility where components such as space-dedicated batteries are developed,
and the Tracking and Control Room for Engineering Test Satellite 7 (Orihime/Hikoboshi).
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| Research and
Development Building |
Central Tracking
and Control Station |
Space Network
Test Facility |
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| Battery Evaluation
and Test Facility |
Engineering
Test Satellite 7 (Orihime/Hikoboshi) Operations and Control room |
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Hands-on Technical Training (Making Geiger counters) |
The ASCANs have been receiving electric and electronics introductory lectures.
To conclude the series of lectures, they made Geiger counters. A Geiger
counter is an instrument that counts the number of radioactive particles.
When it detects a radioactive particle, it activates a buzzer or meter.
They learned how to use the tools first and then set up off the shelf kits.
As the training progressed, they acquired necessary skills and successfully
completed their tasks.
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| ASCAN Furukawa |
ASCAN Hoshide |
ASCAN Sumino |
Testing their products |
ASCANs and instructors |
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Swimming training |
Swimming training was conducted to check whether the ASCANs possess sufficient
swimming skills required in case of an emergency. In swimsuits, they used
breaststroke, backstroke and sidestroke for 25m each. Wearing flight suits
and tennis shoes, they then swam 75m with either the breast or sidestroke,
floated for 10 minutes face up, then treaded water for 10 minutes. Since
they have been constantly training to improve their physical strength,
they were able to perform all the demanding tasks easily.
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ASCAN Furukawa
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ASCAN Hoshide
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ASCAN Sumino
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After the training |
ASCANs' comments after the training
ASCAN Furukawa |
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I enjoyed this emergency training and I hope we never
have to use it. |
ASCAN Hoshide |
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This was my first experience swimming in
a flight suit. It is very important to make sure we have the necessary
skills in case of an emergency. It was a little tiring, but I enjoyed it. |
ASCAN Sumino |
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In a flight suit, the resistance of water
was stronger than I anticipated, which made me tired. However, I found
that my body floated better than in a swimsuit! I found this training was
very useful. |
The next report will be issued in the middle of August.
Last Updated : August. 6, 1999
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