2.03.2018
Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide will be onboard the International Space Station for about six months from around May 2020 and serve as commander of the ISS during the latter part of his stay, Japan's space agency said Friday.
It will be the 49-year-old engineer's third trip to space following his missions in 2008 and 2012, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. He will be the second Japanese commander of the ISS after Koichi Wakata, 54, who played the role for two months from March 2014.
Hoshide's missions at the ISS include the maintenance of facilities, conducting scientific experiments, and manipulating the station's robotic arm, it said.
He will serve as the ISS commander for the final two months of his mission to ensure the safety of crew members and successful completion of their missions.
"In 2020, athletes from around the world will meet in the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic games," Hoshide said in a statement released by JAXA. "As the Commander...I also look forward to overcoming challenges, together with a team of extremely talented people, to expand our horizons for the benefit of present and future generations."
His training to prepare for a lengthy stay in space is scheduled to begin around the fall of 2019, according to JAXA.
In June 2008, Hoshide installed on the ISS the pressurized module of the Japanese science laboratory unit Kibo by using the remote manipulator system and performed various activities, such as activating Kibo's robotic arm, according to JAXA.
From July to November in 2012, he stayed at the ISS for 124 days as a flight engineer, conducting experiments in Kibo including raising Japanese killifish and engaging in the maintenance of the space station, among other things.
Currently, Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai, 41, is onboard the ISS, and Soichi Noguchi, 52, another Japanese national, is scheduled to take part in ISS missions from late 2019.
Quelle: Kyodo News
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JAXA Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide
Selected as ISS Expedition crew member and assuming the post of Commander
March 2, 2018 (JST)
National Research and Development Agency
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), a national research and development agency, is delighted to announce today that JAXA Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide was selected as a crew member of the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 64/65. He will be the second Japanese to assume the post of commander on the ISS in leading the 65th Expedition.
Selected as a JAXA astronaut candidate in 1999, Astronaut Hoshide was launched as a mission specialist (MS) aboard the Space Shuttle in June 2008 for the second of three missions to deliver the Japanese Experiment Module (“Kibo”) to the ISS. In July 2012, he also flew aboard the Soyuz spacecraft (31st launch of crew members to the ISS: 31S), working onboard for 124 days as flight engineer for the ISS Expedition 32/33 mission. The ISS Expedition 64/65 will be the third spaceflight for Astronaut Hoshide.
- Period of stay in space: Approximately six months starting around May of 2020
- Mission:
Expedition 64 (approx. four months): Activities as the ISS Flight Engineer, mainly consisting of maintenance of the ISS facilities (including “Kibo”), scientific experiments, and manipulation of the Mobile Servicing System (MSS)
Expedition 65 (approx. two months): In addition to the above activities, taking the lead as ISS Commander for a successful mission and ensured safety of the crew - Project schedule: Training necessary for the long-duration stay on the ISS scheduled to begin around autumn 2019
Quelle: JAXA