JAXA Astronaut Corps
The JAXA Astronaut Corps is a unit of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency that selects, trains, and provides astronauts as crew members for U.S. and Russian space missions., the corps has seven active members.
History
The first Japanese astronauts were chosen by NASDA, the predecessor to JAXA, in 1985 to train as international mission specialists in the Space Shuttle program.The first Japanese citizen to fly in space was Toyohiro Akiyama, a journalist sponsored by TBS, who flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz TM-11 in December 1990. He spent more than seven days in space aboard the Mir space station, in what the Soviets called their first commercial spaceflight which allowed them to earn $14 million.
The first member of the Japanese Astronaut Corps to fly was Mamoru Mohri aboard STS-47 in 1992.
On 1 October 2003, three organizations were merged to form the new JAXA: Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan, and National Space Development Agency of Japan. JAXA was formed as an Independent Administrative Institution administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Members
The Astronauts Corps is one of the main divisions within JAXA. The agency generally recruits astronauts who have degrees as scientists, engineers and/or medical doctors. In addition to being Japanese citizens or residents, candidates must meet certain physical standards, educational requirements, and be fluent in English.Active
, JAXA has seven active astronauts, six men and one woman.| Astronaut | Missions | Group |
| Satoshi Furukawa | Soyuz TMA-02M, SpaceX Crew-7 | 1999 |
| Akihiko Hoshide | STS-124, Soyuz TMA-05M, SpaceX Crew-2 | 1999 |
| Kimiya Yui | Soyuz TMA-17M, SpaceX Crew-11 | 2009 |
| Takuya Onishi | Soyuz MS-01, SpaceX Crew-10 | 2009 |
| Norishige Kanai | Soyuz MS-07 | 2009 |
| Makoto Suwa | None, to be assigned a mission in 2027 | 2023 |
| Ayu Yoneda | None, awaiting assignment | 2023 |
Former
There are six former JAXA astronauts.| Astronaut | Missions | Group | Notes |
| Takao Doi | STS-87, STS-123 | 1985 | Second Japanese man to fly in space |
| Mamoru Mohri | STS-47, STS-99 | 1985 | |
| Chiaki Mukai | STS-65, STS-95 | 1985 | First Japanese woman to fly in space |
| Koichi Wakata | STS-72, STS-92, STS-119/127, Soyuz TMA-11M, SpaceX Crew-5 | 1992 | |
| Soichi Noguchi | STS-114, Soyuz TMA-17, SpaceX Crew-1 | 1996 | |
| Naoko Yamazaki | STS-131 | 1999 |
Selection groups
- 1985 NASDA Group
- 1992 NASDA Group
- 1996 NASDA Group
- 1999 NASDA Group
- 2009 JAXA Group
- 2023 JAXA Group