[ISS / Japanese Experiment Module (KIBO)] JAXA Astronaut Activity Report, January 2016

Astronaut Kimiya Yui visits Star City in Russia

Expedition 44/45 crew holding a press conference (Credit: JAXA/GCTC)

Astronaut Kimiya Yui, who accomplished his ISS Expedition 44/45 mission, visited the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) in Star City, Russia, for a debriefing on his mission and to attend a welcome home ceremony.

Yui and fellow crewmates at the welcome home ceremony (Credit: JAXA/GCTC)

At the press conference held by Yui and fellow crewmates Oleg Kononenko and Kjell Lindgren, Yui spoke fluent Russian and mentioned that capturing KOUNOTORI5 was a big achievement, although he felt the pressure. Moreover, he felt as if returning home because he considers Russia his second home; and if allowed, he wants to return to space soon.

The Expedition 44/45 crew placing a floral tribute before the statue of Yuri Gagarin (Credit: JAXA/GCTC)		The trio and related people posing for a group photo (Credit: JAXA/GCTC)

Long-duration ISS mission training of astronaut Takuya Onishi

Two astronauts undergo Kibo robotic arm training (Credit: JAXA)

Astronaut Takuya Onishi, a crew member for the Expedition 48/49 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), made a last visit to Japan before the mission to finalize his training in the Kibo module and the H-II Transfer Vehicle “KOUNOTORI” at the Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC), and then held a press conference following the training for emergencies and Extravehicular Activity at the NASA Jonson Space Center (JSC).

Training in the Kibo module entailed closing the airlock and performing robotic arm operations and daily maintenance in a repetitive manner to achieve mastery.

Training on Kibo’s airlock operations (Credit: JAXA)

Airlock operations using the mockup included attaching the IVA-replaceable Small Exposed Experiment Platform (i-SEEP*) and JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) to the slide table in the airlock. The training was open to the press.

* A new hardware adapter for the Exposed Facility (EF), to which several units of exposed experimental hardware weighing up to 200 kg can be attached. It allows for more frequent installation and return of the experimental devices.

Training for KOUNOTORI focused on the systems that astronauts should know and the actual onboard operations performed by the astronauts.

In case of fire or sudden depressurization in KOUNOTORI, Onishi discussed the onboard tasks and procedures for astronauts with the instructors and members of the Flight Control Team (FCT).

On January 27, a press conference was held to introduce Onishi’s mission.

Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa completes domestic-flight pilot training

In January, astronaut Satoshi Furukawa completed flight training at Oita Airport aboard a Hawker Beechcraft Type G58 (Baron), a twin-engine aircraft owned by Honda Airways.

This training is intended to maintain and improve multitasking ability, one of the qualifications required of astronauts.

Prior to actual flight, Furukawa used a flight simulator to familiarize himself with flying the aircraft, and attended lectures on meteorology and flight plans. He also confirmed the preflight inspection procedure and actually inspected the aircraft they were to use.

During the flight training, Furukawa operated the aircraft in response to such simulated irregularities as engine failure and made an aborted landing (go-around).