JAXA Astronaut Activity Report, January 2006

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This is JAXA's Japanese astronaut primary activity report for January 2006.

Mission Specialist Candidate Training

In January, astronauts Furukawa, Hoshide, and Yamazaki continued their space shuttle mission specialist training, which included space shuttle system, ISS, and T-38 flight training.The astronauts were also successfully certified for scuba diving, a requirement for training at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) at the Johnson Space Center (JSC).

Space Shuttle System Training

Space shuttle system training was completed in December 2005, but the astronauts continue training to maintain and improve their abilities.The astronauts were divided into teams and participated in launch and re-entry training using simulators.They also participated in operations training in which the simulator and Mission Control were linked.

ISS Training

Astronaut Wakata (left), Astronaut Yamazaki (middle), and an instructor during training.

Final assessment exams for each of the subsystems at an operator's level were completed.Using the knowledge they acquired, they participated in an emergency operations simulation.In addition, the astronauts participated in training that used actual operations activities that support simulations linked with Mission Control. This training paired the astronauts with veteran astronauts. Astronaut Yamazaki, under the guidance of Astronaut Wakata, participated in a simulation training utilizing a simulator at the Space Station Training Facility (SSTF) at JSC.During this training, Astronaut Yamazaki participated in EVA training planned for the ISS Assembly Flight STS-117 mission (13A).

Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo, Operations Simulation

Astronaut Wakata (right) and a mission controller (left) participating in the simulation.

Astronaut Wakata participated in the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo operations simulation.In this simulation, the Kibo simulator was utilized to simulate Kibo's module on-orbit operations.

This training was conducted with the assumption that the astronauts were replacing one of the two failed JEM control processors.Other Kibo anomalies were also simulated. Trouble shooting and re-scheduling continued.During this simulation, Astronaut Wakata successfully played the role of CAPCOM, communicating information smoothly and accurately.

Specialized training on Japan's Experiment Module, Kibo

Astronaut Wakata (front) and an instructor during training on the assembly and activation of the robot arm console.	Astronaut Wakata (front) and an instructor during training on the launch lock's release process in the Kibo Airlock.

Astronaut Wakata received specialized training on Japan's Experiment Module, Kibo, at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC). This program trains astronauts to be Kibo specialists, astronauts who thoroughly understand and know significantly more about Kibo than any other astronaut.

In this training, the instructors insert possible anomalies that may occur during the activation of Kibo. Taking the system's constraints into account, the astronauts review available procedures, impacts on the system and troubleshooting methods. In addition, training on the assembly and activation procedures of Kibo's robotic arm console, as well as on releasing the launch lock mechanism* of Kibo Airlock, was performed.Training on the intra-vehicular activity in the Pressurized Module (PM) and activities to verify certain instruments and piping/wiring without any guidance from the instructors were also performed.

* Launch lock mechanism: A mechanism used to safely secure mobile parts and joints during launch and re-entry.The mechanism is designed to protect the various parts from vibrations encountered during launch and re-entry that may damage these vital parts.

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