Koichi Wakata

Koichi Wakata (若田 光一 Wakata Kōichi, born 1 August 1963) is a Japanese astronaut and a veteran of four NASA space missions. He is the first Japanese astronaut to stay on the International Space Station (ISS) and the first Japanese commander of the ISS. He is also the first Japanese astronaut to have flown on all five different types of spacecraft: the Space Shuttle, Russian Soyuz, International Space Station, HTV, and MMU.

Early life and education

Wakata was born in Ōmiya, Saitama, Japan. He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1987, and a Master's degree in Applied Mechanics in 1989.

Career

Wakata joined the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 1992 and was selected as an astronaut candidate by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA, now part of JAXA) in 1992. He has held a number of important positions in JAXA and NASA, including Chief of JAXA Astronaut Group and NASA ISS Operations and Integration Branch.

Spaceflight experience

Wakata has participated in four space missions: STS-72 in 1996, STS-92 in 2000, Expedition 18/Expedition 19/Expedition 20 in 2009, and Expedition 38/Expedition 39 in 2013-2014. During his stay on the ISS, he conducted various scientific experiments and contributed to the maintenance and operation of the station.

Awards and honors

Wakata has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to space exploration, including the NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from the Japanese government.

See also

• List of astronauts by year of selection
• List of International Space Station expeditions
• List of human spaceflights

External links

• JAXA biography
• NASA biography