JAXA Astronaut Activity Report, December 2006

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

Mobile Servicing System (MSS) Operations Training for CAPCOMs

Astronaut Hoshide operating the Canadarm2 simulator

Astronaut Hoshide, who serves as a CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator) between the International Space Station (ISS) and the ground, participated in MSS training at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for about a week. The training objective was to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to support the ISS crew on orbit by operating the ISS's Mobile Servicing System (MSS) from the ground.

The MSS consists of the Canadarm2 (Space Station Remote Manipulator System), the Mobile Base System (MBS), and the Mobile Transporter (MT). The MSS moves along rails on the ISS's truss carrying equipment and supporting Extravehicular Activities (EVAs). The just-completed training focused on the Canadarm2 and MBS, and included simulations and lectures that involved specific training on operating the Canadarm2, grappling payloads with the Canadarm2, and troubleshooting while grappling payloads.

	This was my first time back in Canada for training since I completed the JAXA Basic Training. It was a great pleasure to reunite with the instructors there. On this occasion, I received not only the training that crew members receive, but I also took part in the training that the NASA flight controllers in charge of robotics receive. I believe this training was an invaluable experience for serving as a CAPCOM, since it helped me to better understand the type of information that the ISS crew members receive, how they think, and how they'll make decisions accordingly.

Preliminary training in preparation for attending Survival Training in Russia

Astronauts Wakata (right) and Noguchi (left)	Astronaut Noguchi receiving a lecture on how to make a fire

Astronauts Wakata and Noguchi participated in preliminary training in preparation for undertaking Survival Training, held at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC).

Survival training is conducted to train the astronauts on how to survive in the unlikely event that a Soyuz spacecraft makes an emergency landing after launching or upon returning to Earth. Astronauts Wakata and Noguchi trained by participating in exercises on how to put on their extreme weather protection suits, selecting campsites, setting up a shelter, and making a fire.

Kibo Operations Simulation Training

Astronaut Yamazaki participating in the training

Astronaut Yamazaki participated in the Operations Simulation Training for the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo, conducted at JAXA's Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC).

This session simulated the activation of two experiment facilities, the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) and the Image Processing Unit (IPU). Both of these experiments will be installed in the Kibo Pressurized Module (PM). Astronaut Yamazaki also observed the Kibo Flight Controllers so as to better understand how the flight controllers will be operating Kibo.

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