BURSA WILL WITNESS A HISTORICAL MOMENT
Bursa will witness a historical moment at the ASE 2023 Congress (XXXIV. Planetary Congress), hosted by GUHEM and attended by astronauts, cosmonauts, and taikonauts from all over the world to inspire space enthusiasts and raise space awareness.
KOICHI WAKATA IS COMING TO BURSA
This unique organization, which will be held on September 25-29 with the participation of more than 70 Astronauts from 19 countries, will be attended by Russian Air Force Colonel Pilot Engineer, Anton Shkaplerov, who stayed in space for 709 days, Dutch Doctor André Kuipers, who stayed in space for 203 days, Canadian Engineer Julie Payette, who stayed in space for 25 days, French Test Pilot Michel Tognini, who stayed in space for 18 days, Italian Engineer Paolo Nespoli, who stayed in space for 313 days, Russian Director Klim Shipenko, who stayed in space for 11 days, Artemis II Astronaut and American Jet Pilot Victor Grover, as well as Japanese Engineer Koichi Wakata, who stayed in space for 504 days. Many important names will attend.
Engineer Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station, will carry out studies to increase space awareness within the scope of the congress.
WHO IS KOICHI WAKATA?
Born in Japan, he received 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 from Kyushu University in 2004. He worked as a structural engineer at Japan Airlines.
Wakata was selected as an astronaut candidate by the Japan National Space Development Agency (NASDA) (now JAXA) in 1992 and trained at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
Wakata served on several missions and, during STS-85, served as the NASDA Deputy Director of Payload Operations for the Manipulator Flight Demonstration, a robotic arm experiment for the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station (ISS).
In December 2000, he became a robotics instructor astronaut at NASA. In July 2006, he served as commander of the 10th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) mission, a seven-day submarine tour of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Aquarius laboratory off the coast of Florida.
In August 2006, he began flight engineering training for the Russian Soyuz spacecraft in preparation for an extended stay on the ISS.
Wakata first flew in 1996 on STS-72 and then returned to space in 2000 on STS-92. Wakata was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) for a long-duration mission as part of Expeditions 18, 19, and 20 aboard STS-119 on March 15, 2009, returning to Earth aboard STS-127 and its crew of four aboard Endeavor. Half a month later on July 31, 2009. On November 7, 2013, Wataka returned to the ISS aboard Soyuz TMA-11M for a six-month mission spanning the 38th and 39th Expeditions. He became the ISS commander during the last two months of this mission.
Koichi Wakata, born August 1, 1963, is a Japanese engineer and JAXA astronaut. Wakata is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions, a Russian Soyuz mission, and an extended stay aboard the International Space Station. He became the first Japanese commander of the International Space Station during Expedition 39.
He served as flight engineer 2 on Expedition 18, Expedition 19, and Expedition 20 before returning home as a mission specialist on STS-127. Wakata was the first Japanese astronaut to participate in a long-duration mission on the station.
Wakata is the first person to serve on five different crews without returning to Earth: STS-119, Expedition 18, Expedition 19, Expedition 20, and STS-127.
During his time at the station, he took part in experiments suggested by the public, such as flying the "magic carpet", folding laundry, and doing push-ups.
After working as a flight engineer on the station, Wakata returned to Earth aboard Endeavor with the crew of STS-127 in July 2009. American and Canadian astronauts aboard STS-127 delivered and installed the final two components of the Japanese Experiment Module.
On May 21, 2021, NASA, in collaboration with NASA's international partner JAXA, announced JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata as the fourth member of the crew.
In October 2021, Wakata was reassigned to the SpaceX Crew-5 flight.