JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Q. What do you try to do when training astronauts?

Three new JAXA astronauts. From left: Takuya Onishi, Kimiya Yui, and Norishige Kanai.

I’d like Japanese astronauts to be capable of commanding an international team. I want to see many more Japanese astronauts who are trusted by their international colleagues and who become commanders. For that, we need to have excellent technical skills, accompanied by the fundamental behavior that befits an astronaut. By fundamental behavior I mean things like cooperation, teamwork and self-control.
Cooperation of course demands that you take the initiative when it comes to something in your area of expertise, and that you help other astronauts even when they’re working on something that isn’t your specialty. However, you can’t be too intrusive. You need to balance things by taking a step back to think about other people’s positions and feelings. Cooperation requires that you have the ability both to build and lead a team and to be a good follower. As for self-control, you have to constantly keep yourself in top condition. If you let your physical condition deteriorate, that will get you and your colleagues in trouble. When you’re tired, it’s important to rest and recover your strength. You have to become capable of seeing yourself as you really are.
What differentiates a great astronaut from the rest is situational awareness. In addition to perceiving what’s happening right now, situational awareness is the ability to foresee what comes next. This lets you respond quickly and resolve a situation you see coming. That’s the kind of astronaut I want to train.

Q. What do you think is required of a commander?

Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese commander of the ISS, on the Space Shuttle. (courtesy: NASA)

When you become a leader, you won’t be able to pull your team along if your only goal is just to get the job done. You have to have a firm understanding of the other team members’ circumstances, and use that understanding to assess the situation and act. Naturally, we’re human, so there is always some conflict, so I believe it’s important to take it upon yourself to raise questions and engage in thorough discussion until everyone agrees. When you have to be authoritative to get people moving, then do that. But at other times, when a different approach is required, have a good talk with the team and sort out any problems. In the end, though, it’s the leader who takes responsibility. This is what I think is required of a commander.
Also, a leader who is always leading people along will end up with team members who constantly rely on the leader to force them to act. This teaches other people nothing. This is why at times you should transfer responsibility to others and let them handle it. This is the high caliber and magnanimity that I think a commander needs.

Q. What are your thoughts about astronaut Koichi Wakata becoming the first Japanese commander of the ISS?

Training crew for the tenth NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) exercise, for which astronaut Koichi Wakata served as commander (courtesy: NASA)

Since the commander is responsible for the safety of all crew members, if a critical situation occurs, then all the astronauts are placed in danger. This is why the crew puts tremendous faith in the commander. I’m very pleased that a Japanese astronaut has been given such a vital role, and I’m proud of Wakata.
He’s flown in space three times so far, one of which was a long-duration mission on the ISS. He doesn’t get flustered, no matter what happens. He always keeps a cool head. That’s why we at JAXA know that everything will be fine with him as leader. But the ISS is an international project, so it’s not good enough if only the Japanese think so. Wakata has demonstrated his abilities during NASA training and elsewhere, while cultivating his teamwork and leadership skills in programs such as the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and NEEMO [NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations]. He’s proven that he can be a commander.
When we recommended Wakata for the commander post at the international meeting to determine ISS crew assignments, they all agreed that he would be an excellent, trustworthy choice. It was a relief for me. My dream of training a commander had come true. Everybody has faith in him. He’ll certainly do an excellent job.

Q. What are your future expectations for Japan’s astronauts?

Soichi Noguchi conducting a spacewalk (courtesy: NASA)

I expect them to play leadership roles. Looking at the Japanese astronauts who have been through NOLS and NEEMO, they really value harmony with everyone on the team. I think Japanese people are particularly good at adapting to being team members, but now I’d like us to hold on to that spirit of harmony while actually shaping the team. Of course my greatest aspiration for our astronauts is for them to become commanders.
Japanese astronauts have become so good that one of them now teaches other astronauts to operate robotic equipment, but I also want them to be active in spacewalks. Takao Doi and Soichi Noguchi have gone on spacewalks during shuttle missions, but we haven’t had a chance to do one on the ISS. It’s a taxing activity, so a large body is certainly an advantage, but I’d like people to start letting Japanese astronauts handle spacewalks to perform the sort of precision work requiring dexterity that we excel at.
Going forward I’d like Japanese astronauts to move up from just riding on other countries’ spacecraft to actually operating a spacecraft themselves. The United States and Russia only let their own astronauts control their vehicles, so I think that somehow Japan needs its own spacecraft so that we can produce Japanese pilots.

Q. Do you want to see Japan build its own spacecraft?

KOUNOTORI 2, 10 meters below the ISS on its approach to the space station (courtesy: JAXA/NASA)

Yes, I definitely do. Japan has succeeded in transporting cargo to the ISS with KOUNOTORI, and we are now researching how to make this spacecraft retrievable on the ground. If we can develop this technology, then a manned spacecraft will no longer be a mere dream for us. If we can get our own manned spacecraft, then we can show the entire world how great Japanese technology is, and also use that technology to strengthen our domestic technology infrastructure.
But making a manned spacecraft requires an enormous amount of money and personnel, so I believe we need to make a greater effort to explain the benefits and win the support of the Japanese people. Also, the United States and Russia lost astronauts’ lives in the process of developing their manned spacecraft. If Japan is to develop one too, then we can’t rule out the possibility of deadly accidents. That’s why I think that we of course have to make a determined effort to maintain safety, as well as being ready with a response if an accident does occur.

Q. Give us your outlook for Japan’s manned space program.

I want to train more astronauts who are trusted by their colleagues around the world. JAXA has its own methodology for selecting and training astronauts. Since all the astronauts that we have trained so far have been praised by other countries for their excellence, I personally would like to help select and train astronauts from other Asian countries, should they ask us to.
Right now astronaut Satoshi Furukawa is on the ISS conducting a variety of experiments in space. His six-month stay ends on November 22. About six months later, Akihiko Hoshide will begin a six-month stay on the ISS, followed by Koichi Wakata near the end of 2013, who will be the first Japanese commander. Also, last July, Kimiya Yui, Takuya Onishi and Norishige Kanai were certified as ISS astronauts. I expect Japanese astronauts to be active in more and more areas.