JAXA Astronaut Portrait - Naoko Yamazaki
Full Colour 8"x10" Glossy Photo of JAXA Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki
Naoko Yamazaki
JAXA Astronaut
PERSONAL DATA: Born in 1970 in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Married to Taichi Yamazaki. They have one child, Yuki. She enjoys scuba diving, snow skiing, flying and music. Her parents, Akito and Kimie Sumino reside in Matsudo.
EDUCATION: Graduated from Ochanomizu University Senior High School in 1989; Received a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1993 and a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1996.
ORGANIZATIONS: The Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences; Japanese Rocket Society.
EXPERIENCE: Yamazaki joined the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) in 1996 and was involved in the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) system integration, and specifically assigned developmental tasks. She also conducted failure analysis and assembly/initial operation procedure development in the JEM Project Team. From June 1998 to March 2000, she was involved in the development of the ISS Centrifuge (life science experiment facility) and conducted conceptual framework and preliminary design in the Centrifuge Project Team.
In February 1999, Yamazaki was selected by NASDA (currently JAXA) as one of three Japanese astronaut candidates for the International Space Station (ISS). She attended the ISS Astronaut Basic Training program starting in April 1999 and was certified as an astronaut in September 2001. Since 2001, she has participated in ISS Advanced Training, in addition to supporting the development of the hardware and operation of the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” and the Centrifuge.
On October 1, 2003, NASDA merged with ISAS (Institute of Space & Astronautic Science) and NAL (National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan) and was renamed JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).
In May 2004, she completed Soyuz-TMA Flight Engineer-1 training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC), Star City, Russia.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Yamazaki arrived at the Johnson Space Center in June, 2004. In February 2006 she completed Astronaut Candidate Training that included scientific and technical briefings, intensive instruction in Shuttle and International Space Station systems, physiological training, T-38 flight training, and water and wilderness survival training. Completion of this initial training qualified her for various technical assignments within the Astronaut Office and future flight assignment as a mission specialist. She initially served in the Astronaut Office Robotics Branch. Currently, she is assigned to the crew of STS-131, targeted for launch in March 2010.
OCTOBER 2009
PHOTO CREDIT : NASA
