Koichi Wakata

  • STS -72 ( 1996)
  • STS -92 (2000)
  • STS-119/STS-127 (2009)   ISS Expedition 18
  • ISS Expedition 19
  • ISS Expedition 20

Koichi Wakata (Japanese若 田 光 一, Koichi Wakata, born August 1, 1963 in Ōmiya (today: Kita- ku, Saitama ), Japan ) is a Japanese astronaut.

Koichi Wakata acquired in his alma mater, the University of Kyushu, in 1987 a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1989 a master's degree in applied mechanics and received his doctorate in aeronautics and aerospace engineering in 2004.

In 1989, Wakata as an engineer for Japan Airlines ( JAL).

Astronauts activity

In June 1992, he was selected as astronaut candidate by NASDA and sent to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992. After his training, mission specialist, he was employed in various fields at NASA.

STS -72

On January 11, 1996, he flew as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavour for the first time into space. The team began a ten months earlier launched Japanese Space Flyer Unit platform and sat for two days a platform from ODST. In two spacewalks assembly techniques were simulated in order to gain experience for the future International Space Station.

STS -92

On 11 October 2000 Wakata flew aboard the space shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station. Also on board was the Z1 truss segment and the Pressurized Mating Adapter PMA- third Wakata operated when mounting the robotic arm of the space shuttle.

First long-term stay on the ISS

In February 2007, Wakata was nominated as a flight engineer for the ISS Expedition 18, which was then planned for summer 2008. Wakata member of the ISS Expeditions 18, 19 and 20 was to the International Space Station, he started on 15 March 2009 with the Shuttle flight STS -119 By rescheduling, the return was made after the problems with the hydrogen ventilation when refueling the Endeavour for mission STS -127 with a month delay on July 31, 2009.

Second stay on the ISS

To his second long-term stay on the ISS launched Wakata on November 7, 2013, the Soyuz TMA -11M. He is a member of the ISS Expedition 38 In March 2014 he took over the command of the ISS Expedition 39 and will return to Earth in May 2014.

Honors

After him the asteroid Wakata was named.

Private

Wakata is married to the German Stefanie von Sachsen- Altenburg and has a son.

JAXA STS-72 STS-92 Soyuz TMA-11M Kita-ku (Saitama) Saitama, Saitama (6208) Wakata List of space shuttle missions List of human spaceflights List of human spaceflights to the International Space Station
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