Journal 2002 - Tsukuba

Astronaut

I returned from my home visit today to get confirmation that I will indeed be allowed to interview a Japanese astronaut. His name is Akihiko Hoshide. I looked him up on the Internet and am including information on him and the module he is in charge of for the International Space Station. He has not gone up in space yet. With the following information in mind, I would like more questions. The problem is that I may be unable to connect to get email at the hot springs that we will be visiting tomorrow night which will be your Monday morning. So, if you have a question you would have to send it today (Sunday) and I will check it tomorrow morning before I leave the hotel and that should be your Sunday night. (Confusing? You bet!)

Akihiko Hoshide was born December 28, 1968, in Tokyo. He will run the Japanese Experiment Module, Kibo. This module will be part of the International Space Station.

He was trained as a Mechanical Engineer at Keio University in 1992.

He worked the K-2 rocket until 1994.

From 1994-1999 he worked with NASDA's (Japanese space agency) Tsukuba Space Center and Johnson Space Center in the US.

1999 - selected astronaut

Advanced training in 2001 to learn operation techniques for International Space Station (ISS)

The ISS is orbiting earth 400 km from earth

The first flight to build the ISS was in 1998 and is has been inhabited since September 2001

The Japanese Space Agency Module which will become part of the ISS has 4 systems.

  1. Pressurized Module - astronauts will work on experiments in normal clothes
  2. Exposed facility - external platform for material and scientific experiments and observational activities that require zero gravity and near vacuum conditions
  3. Experiment Logistics Module - serves as storage for experiment support equipment, materials, and consumables transported from earth.
  4. Robotic arm

Kibo Experiments

  1. New materials development utilizing microgravity and life science experiments to study the relationship between organic life and gravity.
  2. Manned space technology research to study physical psychological adaptability and to pursue future safe and comfortable habitation in space.
  3. Space engineering such as space transportation, robotics, telecommunications, energy and structures.

Separate launches for the Pressurized Module, Experiment Logistics Module, and exposed Facility will start around 2004. The ISS is expected to be completed in 2006.

As you know, I was emailed in Hamada to be told that the Japanese space agency was setting up an interview with a Japanese astronaut. We got up early (5:30 AM) and after bus and plane (we got to see Mt. Fuji from the air) we got back to Tokyo about 1 PM

We returned to find the head of our FMF (Fulbright Memorial Fund Program) was there to meet us and had been working on plans for our visit herself. There are 200 of us and this was way beyond what we might have expected. She had an FMF employee accompany us on our visit. It was a good thing because we had to go by subway to a HUGE station and then walk the length of the station to a bus terminal and buy tickets to Tskuba and get on the right bus all in Japanese. I do not know how we would have made it without her.

When we got there we were met by Ms Niizeki. She is a member of the public relations team at NASDA. We got a personal tour of the facilities including astronaut training area. We got to see models of the rockets and satellites that the NASDA has sent up. We also got to not only see a model of the module of the International space station but we actually got to see the actual module. We got to see workmen in their clean suits working on it. We got a full explanation of when it is going up and everything. All of this was with two members of the Public Relations team. We had our own bus for the six of us. There were three science teachers I invited along as well as an art teacher/photographer. Finally they took us to the big swimming pool type facility that they have a mockup of the module that will be attached to the ISS. The astronauts try to work under water in full space suits to simulate working in space. You are certainly not weightless under water but you are buoyant and it is as close as we can get. At the WET (Weightless Environment Testing system) building we were introduced to Akihiko Hoshide. We were told he had very little time to talk to us. As it turned out he was very relaxed, spoke perfect English and after allowing us to take many pictures, chatted with us for about 45 minutes. He answered many questions. The interview was taped but FMF asked me for the tape so they can copy it so I will have to give you the text of the interview when I get home. It was unbelievably exciting to sit with him and well, just, chat. He was very personable.

I have to get to my first session today and we are NOT allowed to be late so I will have to try to send more later.

Mrs. Pearson


Here is a picture of me and Akihiko Hoshide.

Today included a presentation about the next step, which is the Fulbright Master Teacher program. This involves coming up with an environmental project and coming back to Japan for 6 weeks to implement it. That would not be until summer of 2003 but it is something to look forward to which would bring me back to this fabulous country. I am eager to come home but sad to leave my new friends.

Mrs. Pearson