JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Assignment of Astronauts for the Space Shuttle Mission
(STS-123 1J/A) to Launch the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo"

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the selection of the following astronauts as crew members for the Space Shuttle mission to assemble the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) "Kibo" (1J/A.)
The Kibo, which has been developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as part of the International Space Station (ISS) Program, is scheduled to be launched by three Space Shuttle missions. On the first of the three missions, the Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section will be attached to the ISS. This mission also will deliver the Canadian Space Agency's Dextre robotic system.
Astronaut Takao Doi has been assigned as a crew member on this mission. Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki will assist the mission from the ground as the Crew Support Astronaut (CSA).

Biography of the STS-123 Crew

	Commander    Capt. Dominic L. Gorie Goerie flew as the pilot of STS-91 in 1998 and STS-99 in 2000. One year later, he commanded STS-108. He was born in Lake Charles, La. Gorie has a bachelor's from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., and a master's from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He was selected as an astronaut in 1994.
	Pilot    Col. Gregory H. Johnson Johnson was selected as an astronaut in 1998. He was born in South Ruislip, Middlesex, United Kingdom. Johnson has a bachelor's from the Air Force Academy and master's degrees from Columbia University, New York, and from the University of Texas, Austin.
	Mission Specialist    Richard M. Linnehan Linnehan flew on STS-78 in 1996 and STS-90 in 1998. During STS-109 in 2002, he performed three spacewalks to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Linnehan was born in Lowell, Mass. He has a bachelor's from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H., and doctorate in veterinary medicine from Ohio State University, Columbus.
	Mission Specialist    Maj. Robert L. Behnken Selected as an astronaut in 2000, Behnken considers St. Ann, Mo., his hometown. He has a bachelor's from Washington University, St. Louis, and a master's and a doctorate from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
	Mission Specialist    Capt. Michael J. Foreman Foreman considers Wadsworth, Ohio, his hometown and was selected as an astronaut in 1998. Foreman has a bachelor's from the Naval Academy and a master's from the Naval Postgraduate School.
	Mission Specialist    Takao Doi 1954 Born in Tokyo, Japan. 1978 Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tokyo. 1983 Doctor's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tokyo. 1985 Completed the training course of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the Ministry of Education (now Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)). 1985 (Aug.) Selected as a PS candidate for the first Spacelab Japan mission "Fuwatto '92." 1990 (Apr.) Assigned as a backup PS for "Fuwatto '92." 1992 (Sep.) Participated in ground support operations for "Fuwatto '92" as a backup PS. 1995 (Mar.)Started MS training. 1996 (May) Certified as an MS. 1996 (Nov.)Assigned as an MS for the STS-87. 1997 (Nov. 19 to Dec. 5)Flew on STS-87 mission aboard Space Shuttle Columbia. First Japanese astronaut to conduct extravehicular activities. Validated performance and operation of crane equipment necessary for assembling the ISS and recovering a satellite in space as a contingency task. 2006 (May) Assigned as a crew member of the Space Shuttle flight for the first transportation and assembly of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Kibo of the International Space Station (ISS).

Astronaut Doi's comments on the announcement of the STS-123 crew members

All the crew members in the first mission to assemble the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo on the International Space Station have been announced. I am full of excitement now that we are ready to start flight training. Finally, the time has come for the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo to be introduced to space and to the world. The Mission Commander, Navy Captain Dominic Gorie, is my friend in the same Astronaut Candidate Class of 1995. He is a very calm and caring person, and I am especially happy to have such a wonderful commander. I have also worked with all of the other crew members and know them very well. In the coming year, we will work very hard in order to have a successful mission. With Kibo being assembled in space, we in Japan will be entering into an exciting new era of Japanese space development.

Following website:

ISS/Kibo Public Affairs & Information Center