JAXA Astronaut Activity Report

International Space Station (ISS) Expedition Operations Training in Russia

Astronaut Noguchi training in Zvezda mockup (©JAXA/GCTC)

Astronaut Wakata training in Zvezda mockup (©JAXA/GCTC)

From May 7, astronauts Wakata and Noguchi participated in over four weeks of training sessions held at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Russia. As part of the ISS expedition training, both astronauts used simulators to learn how to use each system in the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS).

The training sessions involved training on the systems that operate within the Russian segment of the ISS, including the computer system, the electrical power system, the docking and attachment system, and the thermal control system. The training included using the full-scale Russian Zarya and Zvezda mockups (full-scale models).

	With the coming of spring after a long winter, I participated in ISS training sessions in Russia. I had been looking forward to staying here, especially in anticipation of a fresh May breeze since Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center is located in an area that's surrounded by a forest of white birch. However, during my stay in May, Russia experienced one of the hottest springs in decades! Every day was extremely hot, with temperatures of over 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). It was as if it was midsummer. So, I had to ask for mosquito coils from Japan. The training itself went quite well. I learned the computer systems used in the Russian segments. Actually, the knowledge that I acquired during the training is extremely useful in understanding the Russian segment's computer system failures that occurred during the STS-117 mission this past June.

Space Shuttle Emergency Evacuation Training

STS-123 crew members, with Astronaut Doi (center), during evacuation training.

Astronaut Doi (center), waiting his turn inside the mockup

Astronaut Doi, along with the other crew members who will fly with him during the 1J/A (STS-123) mission, participated in emergency evacuation training at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). During the training, they reviewed the evacuation procedures used in an emergency to escape from the space shuttle during launch.

In order to simulate launch operations, a full-scale space shuttle mockup (full-scale model) was used. During the training session, astronaut Doi and his fellow astronauts donned their orange space flight suits worn during launch and reentry.

Space Shuttle Rendezvous Training

Astronaut Hoshide operating the software used during rendezvous

Astronaut Hoshide (right), checking the operating procedures

Astronaut Hoshide participated in training sessions held at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). Astronaut Hoshide simulated the space shuttle rendezvous by using the simulators.

The rendezvous procedures for docking the space shuttle with the ISS were simulated by working with an instructor during the training sessions. The training involved reviewing how to operate the rendezvous software and how to measure distances from the shuttle to the ISS during rendezvous operations. At the end of the sessions, the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver (RPM), in which the space shuttle makes a 360-degree back flip as it approaches the ISS, was also reviewed.

Verifying the checkout procedures of Kibo's Exposed Facility Berthing Mechanism (EFBM)

Astronaut Yamazaki verifying the procedures

Astronaut Yamazaki participated in Kibo's Exposed Facility Berthing Mechanism (EFBM) verification test at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

The EFBM is the berthing mechanism that will be used to connect the Exposed Facility (EF) to the Pressurized Module (PM), both of which are components of the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo.

Astronaut Yamazaki verified the EFBM procedures while working inside the Kibo PM flight model. After verifying the procedures to check the EFBM functions, astronaut Yamazaki then evaluated the effectiveness of the checkout procedures.

Training on operating the digital cameras used in the space shuttle

Astronaut Hoshide focusing the camera on a target

(From left to right) Astronauts Karen Nyberg, Akihiko Hoshide and Kenneth Ham, examining the cameras

Astronaut Hoshide, along with fellow 1J (STS-124) mission crew members, astronauts Kenneth Ham and Karen Nyberg, participated in training on operating the digital cameras that will be used during the space shuttle mission.