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Japan astronaut Wakata to embark on his 5th space mission

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Kyodo News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Astronaut Koichi Wakata" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/10/12/20211012-astronaut-koichi-wakata.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Courtesy of JAXA/NASA</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>TOKYO— Astronaut Koichi Wakata will embark on his fifth space mission, a space travel record for a Japanese astronaut, aboard a new SpaceX ship in the fall of 2022 or later, Japan&#x27;s space agency said Tuesday.</p><p>The 58-year-old astronaut will board the fifth operational Crew Dragon developed by US company Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and stay at the International Space Station for a long period of time, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.</p><p>&quot;This coming flight is going to be my first flight on board a commercial space vehicle. I recognize remarkable developments in the space field and acknowledge dynamic activities by the private sector on the Low Earth Orbit,&quot; Wakata said in a statement.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/classified-odd/05/20/09/japan-astronaut-tests-flying-carpet-space">Japan astronaut tests &#x27;flying carpet&#x27; in space</a></li></ul><p>Wakata has experience of 4 space flights under his belt: 3 US Space Shuttle flights in 1996, 2000, and 2009, and a Russian Soyuz flight in 2013. It will be his third long-term expedition at the ISS following stays in 2009 and 2013.</p><p>Wakata also said &quot;it is an honor&quot; for him to ride the new space vehicle for a third consecutive year for JAXA astronauts, following Soichi Noguchi, 56, and Akihiko Hoshide, 52, who were on board the first and second operational space vehicles, respectively.</p><p>SpaceX, founded by Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk, developed the Crew Dragon as the successor to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration&#x27;s Space Shuttle transportation system that was in service for 30 years through 2011.</p><p>Satoshi Furukawa, 57, another Japanese astronaut, plans to stay at the ISS around 2023, according to JAXA.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/17/20/us-japanese-astronauts-arrive-at-iss-in-spacex-ship">U.S., Japanese astronauts arrive at ISS in SpaceX ship</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VOV0ivEzCu0?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Astronaut Koichi Wakata will embark on his fifth space mission, a space travel record for a Japanese astronaut.