Press Release

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JAXA Astronaut Selected for Space Shuttle Mission
for Transporting and Assembling the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo"

May 6, 2006 (JST)

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

On May 5 (Fri) (Eastern daylight time), Minister Kenji Kosaka of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin agreed the Japanese astronaut to be aboard the Space Shuttle flight for the first transportation and assembly of the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) "Kibo" of the International Space Station (ISS) during their meeting in Washington DC, USA.
The Kibo, which has been developed by Japan as part of the ISS, is scheduled to be delivered to the ISS by three Space Shuttle flights. The first mission is to transport and assemble the Kibo Experiment Logistic Module (ELM) Pressurized Section to the ISS.


  1. Assigned Astronaut and Crew Support Astronaut
    Astronaut Takao Doi
    *Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki was also assigned as the crew support astronaut who will assist this mission. She is the first Japanese astronaut assigned as the crew support astronaut.


  2. Flight schedule
    1st mission (for ELM Pressurized Section): Late 2007
    «Reference»
    2nd mission (for Pressurized Module and Robotic Arm): Early 2008
    3rd mission (for ELM Exposed Section and Exposed Facility): Late 2008


  3. Period of stay at the ISS
    About two weeks (Traveling to and from the ISS on the same Space Shuttle.)


  4. Expected activities at the ISS
    Assembly of the ELM Pressurized Section to the ISS, and other activities.


  5. Schedule of the Astronauts
    General training for being aboard the Space shuttle and the ISS and specific training for "Kibo" assembly will be provided.





For inquiries:
JAXA Public Affairs Department
Tel: +81-3-6266-6413 to 7, Fax: +81-3-6266-6910