JAXA: Astronaut Wakata to serve as Commander for ISS Expedition 39

Astronaut Koichi Wakata, who has been staying at the International Space Station as a flight engineer since November 7, 2013, will assume the post of Commander for ISS Expedition 39. Astronaut Wakata is the first Japanese Commander for an ISS Expedition mission.

- Inauguration date and time: From 5:50 p.m. on March 9 (Sun.), 2014 
  (All dates and times in this release are Japan Standard Time)
   * A "Change of Command Ceremony" to be held at the ISS will mark his inauguration. NASA TV will broadcast the ceremony.

- Change of Command Ceremony: The duty of the Commander will be transferred from Commander Oleg Kotov (Russia) of Expedition 38 to Astronaut Wakata. All six crew members of Expedition 38 and 39 will attend the ceremony. 

- JAXA Event: JAXA broadcast program: "Astronaut Wakata! First Japanese ISS Commander takes post!" (only in Japanese)
  From 5:30 p.m. on March 9 (Sun), 2014 (Broadcast time is subject to change)
  URL: http://iss.jaxa.jp/ (A link for the broadcast will be published on this website.)
  Program schedule: While broadcasting the live broadcast of the ceremony on NASA TV (with simultaneous interpretation into Japanese), we will look back at Astronaut Wakata's activities and discuss his future tasks.
   * The broadcast time schedule is the current plan. You can find an updated schedule at "http://iss.jaxa.jp/"

- Related links 
  JAXA ISS site
    Astronaut Wakata profile   http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/astro/biographies/wakata/index.html
  NASA TV   http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
  Astronaut Wakata twitter: Astro_Wakata   https://twitter.com/Astro_Wakata
wakata

Source / Author: JAXA
Photo: JAXA