JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

JAXA Selects Additional Astronaut Candidate
for ISS Crewmember

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has decided to hire another astronaut candidate who is on the list of back-up candidates.
He will join Yui Kimiya and Takuya Onishi, who were hired in April this year, in training together. The three will take part in the astronaut candidate training course over two years and will be certified as astronauts upon completion of the training. When assigned to a mission, the assigned astronaut will receive mission specific training and stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to operate / maintain the ISS, including the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo”, and conduct various space experiments.

1. Selected Astronaut:

Mr. Norishige Kanai, M.D.

2. Schedule:

- September 12, 2009: Joins JAXA.
- After entering JAXA, he will take part in orientation sessions in Japan, then will participate in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut candidate training course for two years to acquire science and engineering knowledge as well as to gain familiarity with the ISS and Kibo systems, which is required for astronauts. After completing the astronaut candidate training course, he will be certified as a JAXA astronaut based on a training result evaluation.

Brief Biography of the Astronaut Candidate

ISS Kibo Information Center