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In addition to understanding the Soyuz, learning the Russian language was a big task. Because communication with ground stations and displays on indicators were all in Russian, I had to memorize all the necessary Russian words.
Since the lectures were translated by an interpreter from Russian to English, most aspects were absorbed in English. For me, orbit dynamics and attitude control are hard to understand even in my native tongue. Astronauts Hoshide and Yamazaki, whose background is in engineering, helped me greatly in such areas. In return, I was able to help their understanding of some words related to medicine such as "cerebral nerve symptoms by a decompression sickness" and "cerebral embolism," those which were difficult for a Russian interpreter to translate.
After completing my training, I am now confident that I understand the Soyuz system. However, I am not sure in which language I comprehended it.
Anyway, three of us are enjoying a sense of achievement as we were able to complete the training in Russia with support from local and Japanese staff.
Now, we move on to the training for Mission Specialists (MS) at NASA.
So far, we, "ISS astronauts", have been trained as "Passengers" to be taken to the ISS like passengers in a taxi to be taken to the destination. Our real mission has been defined to start when we arrive at the ISS.
 If we become certified as an MS, we will have the possibility to operate the Space Shuttle in addition to the construction of the ISS. Therefore, I would like to expand my ability through training and increase my chance to be assigned to a mission.
Because not many astronauts are certified both as a Soyuz flight engineer and as a NASA MS, I would like to emphasize these points as a Japanese astronaut and be assigned to be aboard the Space Shuttle and the ISS.
When I was selected as an astronaut, I heard that I would fly to space in five years. If so, I should have made my first flight by now. Unfortunately, I am still being told that my first flight will be in five years. Astronaut Mohri told me when I was selected, "You cannot wait without the strong determination that you will fly someday." I now understand very well what he meant.
Fortunately, I enjoy training and the stimulant experience of learning new things. I maintain a forward-looking mind.
In conclusion, let me tell you a story that is not directly related to astronaut training.
As we went back and forth between Japan and Russia, Astronaut Yamazaki and I were once stuck at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow due to over booking by the airline company. We strongly complained to a manager-level personnel at the counter, and, although we could not get a seat, we won a special discount for the extra fee imposed on our over-weight training equipment. I believe that was a good settlement point, and I was quite satisfied with my negotiation skill in Russian that were surely the fruit of my training sessions!
I will have the same spirit and eagerness toward training at NASA as that when I shouted at the Moscow Airport,
(Hey! How long should I wait!? Let me get on board!)
[ Interviewed on June 8, 2004 at JAXAi ] |
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