Fwd: Message Special / Koichi Wakata / Human space program enriches our life: Astronaut

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From: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Date: August 7, 2014 9:13:58 AM CDT
To: "Gary Johnson" <gjohnson144@comcast.net>
Subject: FW: Message Special / Koichi Wakata / Human space program enriches our life: Astronaut

 

 

 

 

Message Special / Koichi Wakata / Human space program enriches our life: Astronaut

Miho Ikeya/The Yomiuri Shimbun

Koichi Wakata

11:00 pm, August 06, 2014

The Japan News This is a special installment of our "Message" series. Today's interviewee is astronaut Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station.

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After the completion of my mission on the ISS in May, I actually feel very privileged to have been able to serve as commander of Expedition 39. It is an important milestone for the Japanese space program to have its own representative in a leading role on the international team of a space station. Japan has become a very reliable partner in the ISS program because of developments and launch operations such as Kibo modules and Konotori space cargo ships. So I really hope we have a second, third and more and more Japanese commanders.

The view of Earth is really magnificent. Earth looks like a very small oasis that is floating in the background of pitch-black space. Especially, the aurora borealis, the moon rising and setting, the atmosphere, and clusters of lightning were very impressive and spectacular.

When I lived on board the ISS five years ago, solar activity was not so active as it was this time. Though I saw some aurora borealis then, this time was much more powerful. The auroras were so beautiful on the north side and southern side, showing greenish or sometimes reddish color. I tweeted several aurora pictures during my flight. Thanks to social media, we are able to share the wonderful experience of watching the beautiful planet with many people on the ground.

I feel very lucky to be able to have such a wonderful planet we can call "home." Our job is to go to space to gain new knowledge [and develop] technology to enrich our life on the ground. At the same time, I feel it is very important for us to protect the environment of Earth with teamwork in international cooperation.

The night views of Earth, especially big cities, are also impressive. The view of Japan is so bright, as well as North America, Europe and China. We can understand that there are so many bright cities in the world. In addition, we can realize how huge [an impact] human civilization has on the nature of this planet and how big our consumption of energy is.

ISS a stepping-stone to the moon and Mars

When we stay at the ISS, we officially talk in English. But ISS crew and candidates need to be able to communicate in English and Russian, both of which are crucial in this program. So I was involved in an immersion program, staying with a Russian family and having lectures from professors before I started training in Moscow.

Regarding English, at first I used radio programs when I was in middle school and high school. I listened to NHK programs and broadcasting from the American Far East Network (FEN). Then, I thought it was impossible for me to become an astronaut because there was no Japanese astronaut until 1985, when Mamoru Mori, Chiaki Mukai and Takao Doi were selected. However, I studied English to become an aircraft engineer, because many related books are written in English.

In addition, in 1985, when I was still studying aeronautical engineering in university, there was a big airline accident, a Boeing 747 crash on Osutaka mountain in Gunma Prefecture, killing more than 500 people. It was a tough thing to realize the safe operation of airplanes. This accident got me interested in the safety of airline operations and made me want to contribute to it.

In the ISS, we spend free time looking at our beautiful home planet from the windows, taking pictures of it, watching movies, or reading books and magazines. Once we had a television conference with our family members. We also really enjoyed having casual conversation with crewmates. But we sometimes have to spend time picking up trash, cleaning and moving the food items because there are a lot of what we call "housekeeping" tasks.

So far, the ISS is to be operated until 2024. Recently, Japan's governmental panel recommended joining this extended program. Japan has already contributed to the international space program via producing many scientific results, for example, new data that would contribute to create new medicine against Alzheimer's disease, new types of influenza and muscle dystrophy. There are so many areas Japan has been leading in efforts to make lives on the ground richer and safer. At the same time, Japan should continue to lead in state-of-the-art scientific research.

The space station is such a wonderful asset for researchers. Japan's Kibo module can do a lot of things, including deployment of small cube satellites [produced and opened by] Japan's own leading technology, and excellent robotics, which are capable of operations in any forms and any shapes, like a humanoid type, or Hayabusa, the prominent asteroid explorer. So we should contribute to the space station program internationally by utilizing strengths that Japan has.

After the completion of the ISS program, we will also be continuing our human space exploration beyond low orbit, where the ISS is located, to go to the moon, asteroids and Mars. We should utilize the space station's capability to test and develop technologies we can use in explorations to the moon and Mars. Developing further the recycling system for water and air is a very critical thing to do for this. I think Japan would be able to contribute to this environment recycling system, especially for water and air.

Actually, some people claim that a further manned exploration program is not realistic because it would cost too much money while the United States as well as Japan face elderly societies and other problems. We always have to answer tough questions.

I became a testee myself for 17 medical experiments, like how my muscle strength changes and how my bone density changes. Everybody onboard the ISS in zero gravity will experience changes in bone density and muscle strength. It is similar to what happens to elderly people on the ground. We will be able to gain data that could be used to develop new countermeasures or medicines to cope with diseases, including osteoporosis. The human space program contributes to coping with and solving a lot of problems we see in a society with more and more elderly people. By exploring space, we can gain a lot of new knowledge that can enrich our daily life on the ground.

To become an ISS commander, I experienced a managerial position at NASA and tough extreme environment mission operations, in which I climbed a cold stormy mountain in winter and stayed in an undersea laboratory. The important thing is that for me, I always treated every training mission as if it was a real space flight, because we should not train ourselves for training. Training should be treated as the real thing. I learned a lot through these experiences to be able to serve as a commander.

I think communication is key for a successful mission of the space program. We need to utilize all the talents and capabilities of everybody involved in a team, and to have good communication to make the best output from that.

ISS crews need to have very strong partnership and teamwork, not only among the crew members but also with the flight control teams around the world, for example, with the JAXA Tsukuba space center, NASA Houston, the Russia space agency in Moscow, ESA in Germany and Canada's center. It is very important to have good communication with all the people involved in the program.

Finally, what I would like to say, especially to young boys and girls, is that everyone has strength and talent. I would like all of you to find who you are and what you are interested in. With this in mind, set up a very clear goal and go straight for that in order to achieve it. Never give up until you reach the goal. Learn from the mistakes that you make. If you keep going without giving up, I believe your dream will come true.

Interviewer: Japan News Staff Writer Kyoichi Sasazawa

(This interview was conducted in English.)

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Interviewee's profile

Koichi Wakata is a Japanese astronaut. He was selected as an astronaut candidate for the NASA space shuttle by NASDA (now JAXA) in 1992 while working as an engineer at Japan Airlines. Wakata, 51, went on four space flights and served as the 39th ISS commander from March to May. He is married and has a son.

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'Message' interview selection giveaway

The Japan News would like to offer our readers a selection of exclusive interviews from our popular "Message" series, specially compiled in PDF format.

The selection from the first "Message" series, which was carried in March, includes interviews with Masako Mori, state minister for gender equality, and Jon Kabira, a media personality known for hosting various TV and radio shows. Interviews with actor Masaya Kato and philosopher Koichiro Kokubun will also be included.

To register for the PDF, please send your name and e-mail address to jn-special@yomiuri.com. Please include "Message" in the subject line.

Please note that recipients may receive further updates on The Japan News campaigns and offers.

 

© The Yomiuri Shimbun.

 

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