JAXA Astronaut Corps

Japanese space exploration unit

The JAXA Astronaut Corps is a unit of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) that selects, trains, and provides astronauts as crew members for U.S. and Russian space missions. The corps has six active members, able to serve on the International Space Station (ISS).

## History[edit]

The first Japanese astronauts were chosen by NASDA, the predecessor to JAXA, in 1985 to train as international mission specialists in the Space Shuttle program.

The first Japanese citizen to fly in space was Toyohiro Akiyama, a journalist sponsored by TBS, who flew on the Soviet Soyuz TM-11 in December 1990. He spent more than seven days in space on the Mir space station, in what the Soviets called their first commercial spaceflight which allowed them to earn $14 million.

The first member of the Japanese Astronaut Corps to fly was Mamoru Mohri aboard STS-47 in 1992.

On 1 October 2003, three organizations were merged to form the new JAXA: Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL), and National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA). JAXA was formed as an Independent Administrative Institution administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC).[1]

## Organization[edit]

The Astronauts Corps is one of the main divisions within JAXA. There are seven active astronauts in the corps and four former astronauts, all of whom have gone into space. Astronaut Kimiya Yui serves as the head of the corps.

## Qualifications[edit]

JAXA generally recruits astronauts who have degrees as scientists, engineers and/or medical doctors. In addition to being Japanese citizens or residents, candidates must meet certain physical standards (including height, weight, hearing and visual acuity), educational requirements, and be fluent in English.

## Members[edit]

### Active astronauts[edit]

JAXA has six active astronauts who have all flown to the International Space Station.

Astronaut | Missions | Group

|
|

Koichi Wakata | STS-72, STS-92, STS-119/127 (Expedition 18/19/20), Soyuz TMA-11M (Expedition 38/39), SpaceX Crew-5 (Expedition 68) | 1992 NASDA Group
Satoshi Furukawa | Soyuz TMA-02M (Expedition 28/29), Actualy ISS Expedition 70, SpaceX Crew-7 | 1999 NASDA Group
Akihiko Hoshide | STS-124, Soyuz TMA-05M (Expedition 32/33), SpaceX Crew-2 (Expedition 65) | 1999 NASDA Group
Kimiya Yui (Head of the Astronaut Corps) | Soyuz TMA-17M (Expedition 44/45) | 2009 JAXA Group
Takuya Onishi | Soyuz MS-01 (Expedition 48/49) | 2009 JAXA Group
Norishige Kanai | Soyuz MS-07 (Expedition 54/55) | 2009 JAXA Group

### Former astronauts[edit]

There are five former JAXA astronauts.

Astronaut | Missions | Group | Notes

|
|
|

Takao Doi | STS-87, STS-123 | 1985 NASDA Group |
Mamoru Mohri | STS-47, STS-99 | 1985 NASDA Group | Second Japanese man to fly in space.
Chiaki Mukai  | STS-65, STS-95 | 1985 NASDA Group | First Japanese woman to fly in space
Soichi Noguchi | STS-114, Soyuz TMA-17, SpaceX Crew-1 | 1996 NASDA Group
Naoko Yamazaki | STS-131 | 1999 NASDA Group | Second Japanese woman to fly in space

## Selection groups[edit]

* 1985 NASDA Group
* 1992 NASDA Group
* 1996 NASDA Group
* 1999 NASDA Group
* 2009 JAXA Group

## See also[edit]

* Toyohiro Akiyama First Japanese person in space
* Canadian Astronaut Corps
* European Astronaut Corps
* NASA Astronaut Corps
* List of astronauts by selection
* Human spaceflight
* History of spaceflight

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Law Concerning Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency" (PDF). JAXA. Retrieved 20 April 2010.

## External links[edit]

* JAXA Astronaut Corps