- Koichi Wakata
- Astronaut
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
I grew up in Saitama, Japan, just outside of Tokyo. I have loved airplanes since I was a boy. At the age of five, I watched the Apollo lunar landing. Ever since, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. The first step on my path toward this goal was to learn a lot about airplanes. After high school, I went on to university and chose aeronautical engineering as my major. I earned a bachelor, master and just recently, a doctorate degree in that field.
My first job after college was with Japan Airlines. I was responsible for the maintenance of the aircraft. In 1992, my dream became reality — I was selected into the astronaut corps and moved from Japan to Houston.
I was part of two space shuttle missions during which we retrieved satellites, performed space walks and scientific experiments, as well as the assembly of the International Space Station. Besides my training for my next space flight on the International Space Station, I work in the robotics and space walk branches of the astronaut office. Our team of engineers and scientists finds ways to improve technical systems and methods used for space flight. I love working with interesting people from all over the world who all make space flight possible. Speaking in a foreign language (English) every day has been a big challenge for me.
Apart from work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our 8-year-old son. We do a lot of fun things together, such as traveling to new places, biking or going to the pool. We all love movies.
I have had a chance to view our oceans from the space shuttle window, high above the earth. I’ve always been very impressed by the sea for its power, beauty and the many mysteries it still holds. I enjoy scuba diving and have fond memories of the dive training I had in the Cayman Island. “Sting Ray City” was a fascinating place.
I very much look forward to experiencing life and research under water during the NEEMO 10 mission. The NEEMO program has produced invaluable information that brings us a step closer to exploration of the moon, Mars and beyond.
