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.
History 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 aboard the Soviet Soyuz TM-11 in December 1990. He spent more than seven days in space aboard 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).
Members The Astronauts Corps is one of the main divisions within JAXA. The agency 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.
Active , JAXA has six active astronauts, five men and one woman. Astronaut Missions Group Akihiko Hoshide 3: STS-124, Soyuz TMA-05M (Expedition 32/33), SpaceX Crew-2 (Expedition 65/66) 1999 Kimiya Yui 2: Soyuz TMA-17M (Expedition 44/45), SpaceX Crew-11 (Expedition 73/74) 2009 Takuya Onishi 2: Soyuz MS-01 (Expedition 48/49), SpaceX Crew-10 (Expedition 72/73) 2009 Norishige Kanai 1: Soyuz MS-07 (Expedition 54/55) 2009 Makoto Suwa None, upcoming: SpaceX Crew-14 (Expedition 75/76) 2023 Ayu Yoneda None, awaiting assignment 2023
Former There are seven former JAXA astronauts. Astronaut Missions Group Notes Takao Doi STS-87, STS-123 1985 Satoshi Furukawa Soyuz TMA-02M (Expedition 28/29), SpaceX Crew-7 (Expedition 69/70) 1999 Mamoru Mohri STS-47, STS-99 1985 Second Japanese man to fly in space Chiaki Mukai STS-65, STS-95 1985 First Japanese woman to fly in space 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 Soichi Noguchi STS-114, Soyuz TMA-17 (Expedition 22/23), SpaceX Crew-1 (Expedition 64/65) 1996 Naoko Yamazaki STS-131 1999
Selection groups 1985 NASDA Group 1992 NASDA Group 1996 NASDA Group 1999 NASDA Group 2009 JAXA Group 2023 JAXA Group
See also Toyohiro Akiyama — First Japanese person in space Other astronaut corps: Canadian Astronaut Corps European Astronaut Corps NASA Astronaut Corps (United States) Indian Astronaut Corps (India) Roscosmos Cosmonaut Corps (Russia) People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (China) List of astronauts by selection Human spaceflight History of spaceflight
References
External links JAXA Astronaut Corps