Press Release

print

Astronaut Hoshide Begins to Tweet!

October 14, 2011 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) joined Twitter on October 14, 2011. Astronaut Hoshide has been assigned as a flight engineer for the Expedition 32/33 crew to stay at the International Space Station (ISS) for about six months from June 2012.

During his last mission to space, STS-124 (J1 mission,) Astronaut Hoshide became the first Japanese to manipulate the ISS robotic arm, and conducted the assembly operation of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo," including installing the Kibo's Pressurized Module (PM) onto the ISS, moving the Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section to the PM, activating the PM, and initializing the Kibo's robotic arm. The mission this time is his second flight, and his first long-term space stay and engagement in a space experiment.

On his Twitter page, he plans to introduce his training on the ground prior to his space trip, then report on his collaborative work with the Kibo's operation and control team based on his experience of daily ISS operations as a Capcom*. He will also tweet about science experiments, and his feelings while preparing for the mission, and during the mission.

JAXA will provide real-time information on activities at the ISS and Kibo through the communication service tool, Twitter.

* Capcom: a Capsule Communicator who is in charge of communicating with astronauts for the ISS control and operation.


  1. Astronaut Akihito Hoshide's Twitter Details
    User name: Aki_Hoshide
    URL: http://twitter.com/Aki_Hoshide
    QR code:


  2. Brief Personal History of JAXA Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide
    1968 Born in Tokyo
    1992 Graduated from Keio University (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology.)
    1992 to 1994 Worked at the then National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA, currently JAXA) Nagoya Office on development and management of the H-II Launch Vehicle.
    December 1997 Received his Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Houston, Cullen College of Engineering.
    February 1999 Selected as an astronaut candidate with Satoshi Furukawa and Naoko Sumino.
    April 1999 Started basic astronaut candidate training for Japanese astronauts by NASDA.
    January 2001 Certified as an astronaut.
    April 2001 Participated in advanced training for astronauts aboard the ISS, which is held under international cooperation among ISS member organizations.
    Also, engaged in technical support operations for development and operation of the Kibo and the HTV, a cargo transporter to the ISS.
    May 2004 Certified as a Soyuz-TMA Flight Engineer.
    From June 2004, he started participating in candidate training for Mission Specialists (MS) with NASA.
    February 2006 Certified as a NASA Mission Specialist (MS)
    June 2008 Participated in the 1J mission (STS-124 mission.)
    He manipulated the ISS robotic arm (Space Station Remote Manipulator System, SSRMS) as the first Japanese to assemble the Pressurized Module (PM) of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" onto the ISS, and to move the Experiment Logistics Module Pressurized Section, which had been temporarily placed at the ISS in March, to the PM. He also engaged in other Kibo-related operations including activating the PM, and initializing the Kibo's robotic arm.
    November 2009 Selected as the flight engineer for the 32/33 ISS Expedition crew


  3. Reference URL
    JAXA Website http://iss.jaxa.jp/
    JAXA Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide http://iss.jaxa.jp/astro/hoshide/