Koichi Wakata
| Koichi Wakata | |
|---|---|
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| NASDA/JAXA Astronaut | |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Born |
1 August 1963 Ōmiya, Saitama |
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Other occupation
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Structural Engineer |
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Time in space
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347 days, 08 hours, 32 minutes |
| Selection | 1992 NASDA Group |
| Missions | STS-72, STS-92, STS-119, Expedition 18, Expedition 19, Expedition 20, STS-127, Soyuz TMA-11M (Expedition 38/39) |
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Mission insignia
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Koichi Wakata (若田 光一 Wakata Kōichi?, born 1 August 1963) is a Japanese engineer and a JAXA astronaut. Wakata is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions, a Russian Soyuz mission and a long-duration stay on the International Space Station. During a nearly two decade career in spaceflight he has logged more than eleven months in space. During Expedition 39, he became the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station. Wakata flew on the Soyuz TMA-11M/Expedition 38/Expedition 39 long duration spaceflight, from 7 November 2013 to 13 May 2014. During this spaceflight he was accompanied by Kirobo, the first humanoid robot astronaut.
Wakata was born in Ōmiya, Saitama, Japan, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering in 1987, a Master of Science degree in Applied Mechanics in 1989, and a Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering in 2004 from Kyushu University. He worked as a structural engineer for Japan Airlines.
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