Koichi Wakata was born August 1, 1963, in Omiya, Saitama, Japan. He was selected as an astronaut candidate by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) in June 1992. A multi-engine and instrument rated pilot, Wakata has logged over 1100 hours in a variety of aircraft. Wakata reported to the NASA Johnson Space Center in August 1992. He completed one year of training and is qualified for assignment as a mission specialist on future Space Shuttle flight crews.

Space flight experience: STS-72 Endeavour (January 11-20, 1996). Wakata flew as the first Japanese mission specialist on this 9-day mission during which the crew retrieved the Space Flyer Unit (launched from Japan 10-months earlier), deployed and retrieved the OAST-Flyer, and conducted two spacewalks to demonstrate and evaluate techniques to be used in the assembly of the International Space Station. The STS-72 mission was completed in 142 orbits, traveling 3.7 million miles in 8 days, 22 hours and 40 seconds.

STS-92 Discovery (October 11-24, 2000) was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida and returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California. During the 13-day flight, the seven member crew attached the Z1 Truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3 to the International Space Station using Discovery’s robotic arm and performed four space walks to configure these elements. This expansion of the ISS opened the door for future assembly missions and prepared the station for its first resident crew. The STS-92 mission was accomplished in 202 orbits, traveling 5.3 million miles in 12 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes and 25 seconds.

The Artwork

NASDA astronaut Koichi Wakata will fly on board the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-92). He will be the first Japanese astronaut to participate in the construction of the International Space Station (ISS). His primary duty on this flight will be to operate the Space Shuttle's robotic arm to instal components on the ISS and to support the extravehicular activities. Trough this mission, astronaut Wakata wants to convey the message; towarts the century of 'Chikyu-jin' (Citizens of the Earth). He explains that this means, "By broadening our frontier in space together, while protecting the environment of our home planet Earth, we will be able to acquire new values and culture as one people - 'Chikyu-jin' - with no awareness of boundaries or race and that the ISS is an important step to achieve this".

Spot the Patch !!!

During STS-92 Koichi Wakata photographed his personal patch, after he placed it on a window of Space Shuttle Discovery.