JAXA Astronaut Activity Report

Astronaut Furukawa Takes Final Pre-launch Examination

Astronaut Furukawa and the other 27S mission crew members proceeded to their final preparation for launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome (Credit: JAXA/NASA/Victor Zelentsov)

On May, as one of the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 28/29 and Soyuz TMA-02M crew members, Astronaut Furukawa took the final examination to gain permission for the extended stay in the ISS at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Russia.

The examination was held over two days. Three prime crew members, including Astronaut Furukawa and another three backup crew members, separately took the examination. Almost one day was spent on the examination, which concerned the Soyuz spacecraft and the Russian segment of the ISS.

During the examination, crew members accomplished tasks with great cooperation, engaged in maneuvers and control of the Soyuz spacecraft and simulated operations of the Russian modules while handling anomalies. Their operational skills were evaluated as excellent, and they successfully passed the examination.

Astronaut Furukawa and the other 27S mission crew members attending the pre-launch ceremony (Credit: JAXA/NASA)

After the final examination, the crew members attended the traditional pre-launch ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow. Subsequently, they departed from the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC）to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan and made their final preparation by confirming Soyuz TMA-02M and Sokol spacesuits.

Astronaut Candidate Training

Astronaut candidates Yui, Onishi, and Kanai are continuing their astronaut candidate training based in the Johnson Space Center (JSC), U.S.

Astronaut candidates Yui and Kanai conducted training on the Extravehicular Activity (EVA), while Astronaut candidate Onishi trained in the ISS training simulator to prepare for contingency situations aboard the ISS.

All three are continuing flight training using both the T-38 jet trainer and language training.

Astronaut Wakata visits the NAOJ Hawaii Observatory and returns Official Flight Kit

Astronaut Wakata presented a mission commemorative plaque to Dr. Hideki Takami, Director of NAOJ Hawaii Observatory (Credit: JAXA)

Astronaut Wakata visited the NAOJ (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan) Hawaii Observatory and returned the banner of the Subaru telescope he carried as an Official Flight Kit (OFK) during his long stay on the ISS.

Astronaut Wakata gave a speech with pictures and videos from his three flights and introduced life in space and the technologies supporting extended stays in space.

He also visited the Subaru telescope located on the summit of Mauna Kea, where the severe environment on top of a 4,200-meter mountain can be compared with that of space. He talked and deepened the exchange with the site staff devoted to the operation of the telescope.

Astronauts Wakata and Noguchi visit disaster areas

Astronauts Wakata and Noguchi temporary returned to Japan and visited areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake respectively; Astronaut Wakata visited Ofunato City, Iwate prefecture and Kesennuma City, Miyagi prefecture while Astronaut Noguchi visited Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture and Soma City, Fukushima prefecture. The astronauts gave speeches at elementary schools and evacuation centers and encouraged people, especially children who suffered from the earthquake.