ISS Astronaut Activity Report, February 2004

This is JAXA's primary activity report on Japanese astronauts for February 2004. From the end of January through the beginning of March, the Japanese astronauts received training on the Soyuz spacecraft in Star City, Russia.

Soyuz Training

The three astronauts receiving lectures

Astronauts Furukawa, Hoshide, and Sumino received training on the Soyuz spacecraft at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (GCTC) in Russia. The purpose of the training was to qualify them as Flight Engineers for the Soyuz spacecraft. The first training session was held from July through September in 2003. The training takes six months total, and this was the first half of the second session.

In this report, we will introduce you to part of the six-week training session.

The three astronauts received lectures on onboard TV and thermal control systems of the Soyuz spacecraft. They learned about the Orlan spacesuit they would wear in extravehicular activity (EVA), and Russian EVA operations. They also conducted EVA training wearing the Orlan in a training facility called the Egress Simulator. The Egress Simulator enables us to simulate weightlessness on the ground by pressurizing the Orlan to the same differential pressure as in space and suspending it by wire. The astronauts learned the basic procedures for the EVA; handling an emergency situation with the Orlan, and normal and emergency operation of the airlocks.

Receiving explanation at the training facility Receiving explanation of Orlan spacesuit

Astronaut Hoshide manipulating the training equipment EVA simulation

EVA simulation Back view of Orlan spacesuit Training on the Soyuz re-entry module simulator

During the final week of the training session, the astronauts had scuba diving practice at the training facility called the Hydro Laboratory. This was conducted to check the level of the astronauts' diving skills in advance of the next underwater exercise where they wear spacesuit. In this training, they learned emergency procedures for when a diver becomes unconscious. They also observed the mockup of the Russian segment of the ISS placed underwater.

One of the pleasant things about receiving training at GCTC is that they can mingle with astronauts of other agencies around the world other than Russians, such as NASA, ESA, and CSA.

The last half of the second Soyuz training is planned to be held during the first half of the year 2004.