JAXA Astronaut Activity Report, December 2004

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This is JAXA's Japanese astronaut primary activity report for December 2004. 

Mission Specialist Astronaut Candidate Training

In December, Astronauts Furukawa, Hoshide, and Yamazaki continued their Space Shuttle Mission Specialist training.

Space Shuttle System Training, lectures, and examinations for phase one training were part of the training this month. The candidates also continued their T-38 jet training.

Astronauts Furukawa, Hoshide, and Yamazaki were interviewed a half year into the Mission Specialist Astronaut Training Course.

The following videos contain interviews of the three JAXA astronauts commenting on their training. The astronauts were asked questions on what impressed them, what was the most difficult moment, and what peaked their interest for their up coming training. Take a look at the actual footage from their training. All videos are in Japanese only.

Astronaut Furukawa During zero-gravity training I learned that I must firmly brace my body in order to perform certain tasks, such as, turning a screw. ( See the complete interview on the video.)

Astronaut Hoshide Beginning with our class, we will receive "Exploration training - with Lunar and Mars Explorations in sight" that is being introduced as part of the MS candidate training program. I am really looking forward to that. (Watch the video for the complete interview.)

Astronaut Yamazaki Breaking the sound barrier was quite overwhelming for me. (The complete interview can be seen on the video.)

EVA Validation Test of the Japanese Experiment Module - "Kibo" assembly to the ISS

Astronaut Doi (left) and Astronaut Wakata (right) conducting the LTA validation test.

Astronaut Doi and Astronaut Wakata are validating the JEM - Kibo Launch To Activation (LTA) in preparation for Kibo's launch.

After the Shuttle delivers "Kibo" to the ISS as part of the assembly of Kibo to the International Space Station (ISS), the cable providing electricity to Kibo from the Shuttle must be disconnected. The cable, after being disconnected, will then be stowed in the Shuttle's payload bay. The validation task was to determine whether the payload bay would be a convenient place to stow the cable, for the astronauts conducting the EVA.

	The JAXA astronauts have been using the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) for training and evaluation tasks. However, this is the first time that two JAXA astronauts have actually worked together in the NBL. Since we are both Japanese, our teamwork went quite smoothly, and our performance during the validation test was excellent.

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