- Born:
- August 1, 1963, Saitama, Japan (age 63)
Koichi Wakata
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Who is Koichi Wakata?
Koichi Wakata, born on August 1, 1963, is a Japanese astronaut and engineer with numerous records. He holds the record for the longest time spent in space by someone who is not an American or Russian, with over 504 days in orbit. Wakata is also the first Japanese astronaut to go on five spaceflights and, in 2014, became the first from Japan to command the International Space Station (ISS).
Before becoming an astronaut, Wakata worked as an aircraft structural engineer at Japan Airlines after earning degrees in aeronautical engineering and applied mechanics from Kyushu University. In 1992, he joined the National Space Development Agency of Japan (now JAXA) and trained with NASA. Wakata's first spaceflight was in 1996 on the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
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What is Koichi Wakata known for?
Koichi Wakata is a Japanese astronaut celebrated for his record-breaking space career. He holds the record for the longest time spent in space by anyone who is not an American astronaut or a Russian cosmonaut, with over 504 days in orbit. Wakata was the first Japanese astronaut to go on five spaceflights and, in 2014, he was the first from Japan to command the International Space Station (ISS). In 1996, he flew into space for the first time aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on the STS-72 mission.
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What was Koichi Wakata’s original profession before becoming an astronaut?
Before becoming an astronaut, Koichi Wakata worked as an aircraft structural engineer at Japan Airlines starting in 1989. He earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering in 1987 and a master’s degree in applied mechanics in 1989 from Kyushu University. In 1992, the National Space Development Agency of Japan (now JAXA) selected him for astronaut training, leading him to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
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Which space missions has Koichi Wakata participated in?
Koichi Wakata, a Japanese astronaut, has participated in five spaceflights, accumulating over 504 days in orbit, the longest for anyone who is not an American or Russian astronaut.
Wakata's space missions:
* STS-72 His first flight was in 1996 on the space shuttle Endeavour, where he used the shuttle’s robotic arm to retrieve a Japanese satellite.
* STS-92 In 2000, he journeyed to the ISS on the shuttle Discovery, using the robotic arm to move and install parts of the station.
* STS-119 In 2009, Wakata launched on Discovery for his first long-duration mission at the ISS, staying for about five months.
* Soyuz TMA-11M Wakata began a six-month stay at the ISS at the end of 2013, launching aboard a Russian spacecraft. For two months in 2014, he served as commander of the space station.
* Crew-5 In 2022, he went to the ISS on his third long-duration mission aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft Endurance.1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What roles did Koichi Wakata have while aboard the International Space Station?
During his time on the International Space Station (ISS), Koichi Wakata had several significant roles. In 2000, he utilized the robotic arm to move and install sections of the ISS. In 2009, he began his first long-duration mission at the ISS, conducting experiments and managing station installations using robotic arms. In 2014, Wakata became the first Japanese astronaut to command the ISS, taking responsibility for the safety of the astronauts and the station's routine operations. In 2022, he went to the ISS on his third long-duration mission, Crew-5, and made two spacewalks with American astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann.
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How did Koichi Wakata’s work influence Japan’s space program?
Koichi Wakata significantly influenced Japan's space program through his pioneering achievements and extensive experience. As the first Japanese astronaut to command the International Space Station (ISS) in 2014, Wakata demonstrated Japan's growing role in space exploration and leadership capabilities. His long-duration missions at the ISS, where he conducted experiments and managed station installations, further enhanced Japan's contributions to space research. Wakata's five spaceflights and record-breaking time in orbit, exceeding 504 days, have inspired a new generation of Japanese astronauts and engineers, solidifying Japan's position in the international space community.
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Koichi Wakata (born August 1, 1963, Saitama, Japan) is a Japanese astronaut who accumulated a number of records during his career. Among them, he spent the longest time in space of anyone who was not an American astronaut or a Russian cosmonaut, staying in orbit for over 504 days. He was the first Japanese astronaut to go on five spaceflights. In addition, in 2014 Wakata became the first Japanese astronaut to command the International Space Station (ISS).
When Wakata was a young boy he dreamed of becoming an astronaut. However, he did not think it was possible, because at that time Japan did not have any astronauts. He instead turned his attention to building and flying airplanes. Wakata attended Kyushu University in Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu. He received a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering in 1987 and a master’s degree in applied mechanics in 1989. Years later, in 2004, he earned a doctorate in aerospace engineering.
In 1989 Wakata began to work at Japan Airlines as an aircraft structural engineer. Three years later the National Space Development Agency of Japan (now the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA) chose him to begin astronaut training. The organization sent him to train with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. There he explored such subjects as shuttle and ISS robotics, shuttle payloads, and ISS operations.
In 1996 Wakata went on his first flight into space in the space shuttle Endeavour on the STS-72 mission. He operated the shuttle’s robotic arm to retrieve a Japanese satellite, the Space Flyer Unit, that had been launched several months earlier and to release and retrieve an American satellite, the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology-Flyer, which flew on its own for two days.
In 2000 Wakata journeyed to the ISS on the shuttle Discovery on the STS-92 mission, which was the 100th space shuttle flight. Once again he used the robotic arm, this time to move and install portions of the space station. In 2006 Wakata commanded a small team at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s undersea habitat off the coast of Florida. During the weeklong stay the crew attempted missions on the ocean floor. The undersea environment simulates the conditions in space.
In 2009 Wakata undertook his first long-duration mission at the ISS, launching for a second time aboard Discovery on STS-119. He stayed for about five months, becoming the first Japanese astronaut to live at the ISS for an extended period of time. While there, he conducted experiments and attended to station installations using the robotic arms. He returned to Earth aboard Endeavour on STS-127.
Wakata began a six-month stay at the ISS at the end of 2013, launching aboard a Russian spacecraft on the Soyuz TMA-11M mission. For two of those months, in 2014, he served as commander of the space station. During that time he was responsible for the safety of the astronauts as well as the routine running of the station.
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In 2022 he went to the ISS on his third long-duration mission, Crew-5, aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft Endurance. He became one of the few people to have flown aboard three different types of spacecraft: the space shuttle, Soyuz, and Dragon. He also made two spacewalks with American astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann.