Astronaut Wakata heads to space station, hopes work will pave way to moon, Mars
Posted by: Tomoko in Space shuttle Discovery on
Mar 18, 2009
With the successful launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, astronaut Koichi Wakata, 45, is on his way to the International Space Station (ISS) as the first Japanese to become a resident crew member, with a full schedule of research ahead of him during his stay.
After docking with the station on the third day of the mission, Wakata will take residence with two other astronauts, from the United States and Russia. While in orbit, Wakata will carry out experiments examining the effects of space travel on the human body using himself as the test subject, as well as posting blog entries detailing life in space.
"As well as enriching daily life, I hope to make a contribution by collecting data vital to humanity's expansion to the moon and to Mars," said Wakata.
In a microgravity environment, astronauts are prone to muscular atrophy and reduction in bone mass, which can lead to osteoporosis. According to previous research, around half of astronauts who have spent six months in space had at least one area where bone mass had been reduced by 9 percent or more. Astronauts are required to do 2 1/2 hours of exercise per day, but exercise alone cannot prevent the deterioration of muscle and bone. So, as part of his research on the station, Wakata will take an anti-osteoporosis drug once a week to see if it can be applied to retaining bone density in space, the first such experiment to be performed on the station.
Wakata will also be wearing a radiation meter to measure his exposure to cosmic radiation. Crew aboard the station can experience the equivalent of a six month dose of background radiation on Earth every day.
He will also be carrying out 16 experiments proposed by members of the public and selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Suggestions for possible experiments included testing whether it's possible to use eye drops in zero gravity, move through the air using one's breath, a fan or doing the front crawl, and if it's possible to float on top of a piece of fabric like a magic carpet.
Wakata will use his two days off per week to carry out the 16 winning suggestions, and post videos of the results starting around July.
"According to JAXA, "the length of Wakata's stay allows us to do these kinds of activities. We expect to use the mission as on-site education."
After the launch of the space shuttle Discovery that sent Wakata on his way to the space station, JAXA held a press conference at the Kennedy Space Center and outlined its new and bold vision for the future of Japan's space program.
"This is the first step in Japan's manned space exploration," said a top JAXA official. "We hope to contribute to the field of sending humans into space and bringing them home again." Forming the backdrop to JAXA's statements was a plan released March 6 by the Cabinet's Strategic Headquarters for Space Policy for pursuing an independent manned space program. The plan underwent deliberation in an internal expert committee, and is a complete reversal from the government's previous position.
Participation in the ISS represents Japan's only manned space efforts. According to Akira Sawaoka, a member of the space headquarters expert panel as well as president of the Daido Institute of Technology, "developing spacecraft and (studying) extra vehicular activities are tasks we must take on one at a time."
"We must set out a clear map of the path to manned space exploration and the reasons for it to the public," Sawaoka stated.
Japan built and installed the space station's Kibo experiment module, proving that Japan has the know-how to build manned facilities in space, and Wakata's long stay on the station forms the next step in building up the knowledge of health management and life in space necessary for independent missions. However, the government must still answer some essential questions about manned space exploration, such as "Why do we need manned missions?" and "Why are we aiming to land on the moon?"
Wakata's video "Space Blog" can be found at http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/koichiwakata_blog. He plans to post videos of his life on the station in real time.
(Mainichi Japan) March 17, 2009
After docking with the station on the third day of the mission, Wakata will take residence with two other astronauts, from the United States and Russia. While in orbit, Wakata will carry out experiments examining the effects of space travel on the human body using himself as the test subject, as well as posting blog entries detailing life in space.
"As well as enriching daily life, I hope to make a contribution by collecting data vital to humanity's expansion to the moon and to Mars," said Wakata.
In a microgravity environment, astronauts are prone to muscular atrophy and reduction in bone mass, which can lead to osteoporosis. According to previous research, around half of astronauts who have spent six months in space had at least one area where bone mass had been reduced by 9 percent or more. Astronauts are required to do 2 1/2 hours of exercise per day, but exercise alone cannot prevent the deterioration of muscle and bone. So, as part of his research on the station, Wakata will take an anti-osteoporosis drug once a week to see if it can be applied to retaining bone density in space, the first such experiment to be performed on the station.
Wakata will also be wearing a radiation meter to measure his exposure to cosmic radiation. Crew aboard the station can experience the equivalent of a six month dose of background radiation on Earth every day.
He will also be carrying out 16 experiments proposed by members of the public and selected by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Suggestions for possible experiments included testing whether it's possible to use eye drops in zero gravity, move through the air using one's breath, a fan or doing the front crawl, and if it's possible to float on top of a piece of fabric like a magic carpet.
Wakata will use his two days off per week to carry out the 16 winning suggestions, and post videos of the results starting around July.
"According to JAXA, "the length of Wakata's stay allows us to do these kinds of activities. We expect to use the mission as on-site education."
After the launch of the space shuttle Discovery that sent Wakata on his way to the space station, JAXA held a press conference at the Kennedy Space Center and outlined its new and bold vision for the future of Japan's space program.
"This is the first step in Japan's manned space exploration," said a top JAXA official. "We hope to contribute to the field of sending humans into space and bringing them home again." Forming the backdrop to JAXA's statements was a plan released March 6 by the Cabinet's Strategic Headquarters for Space Policy for pursuing an independent manned space program. The plan underwent deliberation in an internal expert committee, and is a complete reversal from the government's previous position.
Participation in the ISS represents Japan's only manned space efforts. According to Akira Sawaoka, a member of the space headquarters expert panel as well as president of the Daido Institute of Technology, "developing spacecraft and (studying) extra vehicular activities are tasks we must take on one at a time."
"We must set out a clear map of the path to manned space exploration and the reasons for it to the public," Sawaoka stated.
Japan built and installed the space station's Kibo experiment module, proving that Japan has the know-how to build manned facilities in space, and Wakata's long stay on the station forms the next step in building up the knowledge of health management and life in space necessary for independent missions. However, the government must still answer some essential questions about manned space exploration, such as "Why do we need manned missions?" and "Why are we aiming to land on the moon?"
Wakata's video "Space Blog" can be found at http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/koichiwakata_blog. He plans to post videos of his life on the station in real time.
(Mainichi Japan) March 17, 2009
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