JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Q. What are your thoughts on Japan’s development of a manned spacecraft?

The KOUNOTORI technical demonstration vehicle approaching the ISS (courtesy: JAXA/NASA)

KOUNOTORI 2 docking with the ISS (courtesy: JAXA/NASA)

As of today, Japan does not have a reusable launch vehicle, but we have already established the capability to send supplies to the ISS with KOUNOTORI. We have also learned about the difficulties that the other human-rated spacecraft in the world experienced in the past. Using KOUNOTORI as a model for development, our goal for the future is to establish the capability to carry payloads back to Earth. If we have the return capability, then we can conduct space experiments that will require samples to be returned to the laboratories on the ground.
In recent years, China has been developing its own human spacecraft and space station, and I think others such as India and the European countries will continue to improve their technological capabilities in this field. The private sector in the U.S. is working on development of piloted spacecraft as well. Under these circumstances, I think Japan should also continue to make steady progress in the technological development of human space flight based on a long-term vision utilizing our country’s superior technologies, such as those for reliability and miniaturization. It would be wonderful if we could spur the development of an original Japanese human spacecraft using the technologies our country excels at.

Q. Do you want to be involved in the development of a manned spacecraft?

Definitely yes. After completing my next long-duration stay on the ISS, my goal is to apply my operational experiences as an astronaut to the development of a Japanese human spacecraft. Japan has successfully transported supplies to the ISS with KOUNOTORI, two flights in a row, for which we received high praise from around the world. Japan has the technology to build a human spacecraft. Other countries will continue working on human spacecraft even if Japan does not, but if we can offer our own vehicle, then we can take a further leading role in contributing to the world’s efforts in space exploration.

Q. What kind of training are you doing to prepare for ISS Expeditions 38 and 39, scheduled for 2013?

Trainees at the National Outdoor Leadership School in the mountains of Washington state. Wakata is in the middle of the front row.

I’ll be serving as a flight engineer on ISS Expedition 38, and the commander of ISS Expedition 39. In addition to the ISS systems operation training I went through for my previous ISS Expedition flight in 2009, I am going through preparation to better serve as an ISS commander. For example, the National Outdoor Leadership School in the U.S. takes people outdoors to learn about leadership and group behaviors. This training will give me a good opportunity to get to know my crewmates well and learn about what is needed to bring a team together. All astronauts have a high esprit de corps and are passionate about their work in space. I am preparing for the flight so that I can bring the team members’ vectors pointed straight towards the mission goals, while understanding what each astronaut’s hopes and expectations are during the ISS Expedition.

Q. You’ll be the first Japanese commander of the ISS. What kind of commander do you want to be?

Astronaut Brian Duffy at the Kennedy Space Center prior to his first flight (courtesy: NASA)

I have met many great leaders in the past in my work, such as my section chief at the airline company I worked at, a Houston NASDA (National Space Development Agency of Japan) liaison office director, and my Space Shuttle and ISS commanders. Therefore, I often reflect upon what they taught me about leadership, and I would just like to give it my best shot to approach their greatness.
For example, the commander on my first and second Shuttle missions, Brian Duffy, placed importance on good communication with team members both during and outside of training – chit-chatting in the office or even occasionally going out for a beer after work. While we were with him day in and day out, having good communication and doing our work together, I noticed that we were able to naturally complete our jobs as a team. By talking with us, he learned what each one of us astronauts was thinking so that he could spot any problems and give us advice informally. We do not recall him teaching us; it felt like the things he taught just came to us naturally. So, in that sense, he was “a truly natural leader who made our jobs look easy to others”. He was a commander who was always open to all of us on the team. Like Colonel Duffy, I would like to have good communication and build a relationship of trust with everyone so each of the six crew members can achieve his goals while producing solid results as a team for the ISS program. I hope to be a commander who can lead in a way that inspires my teammates to appreciate and enjoy the time we spend in training and flight together.

Q. Please tell us about your ambitions for the next flight.

My most important goal is to fulfill my duties during Expedition 38 and 39. Kibo and KOUNOTORI have demonstrated the high standard of Japan’s human spaceflight technology, and the operations control team at Tsukuba has been safely operating Kibo, producing many wonderful scientific results with the utilization of this space asset since assembly began in orbit in March 2008. In order for Japan’s human space activities to take a step up to the next level, I would like us to contribute to the success of the ISS program by maximizing the output of the scientific and technical utilization of the ISS. I think creating harmony and maintaining solid communication within the large team, which includes our fellow international crewmembers, international flight control teams on the ground, and program management teams across the globe, is a key to that success.