STS-123 Mission Specialist: Takao Doi (JAXA)

Japanese astronaut Takao Doi, mission specialist on STS-123 and representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, poses for a preflight photo. CREDIT: NASA

NAME: Takao Doi (Ph.D.)
JAXA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA: Born in 1954 in Minamitama, Tokyo, Japan. Married to the former Hitomi Abe of Toukamachi, Niigata, Japan. He enjoys flying, soaring, playing tennis, jogging, soccer, and observing stars as an amateur astronomer.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Ousaka-phu, Mikunigaoka High School in 1973. Bachelor of engineering degree from University of Tokyo, 1978. Master of engineering degree from University of Tokyo, 1980. Doctorate in aerospace engineering from University of Tokyo, 1983. Doctor of Philosophy in astronomy from Rice University in 2004.

ORGANIZATIONS: The Japan Society of Microgravity Application, the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Science, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

SPECIAL HONORS: Received Minister of State for Science and Technology’s Commendation, Science Council of Japan’s Special Citation, and National Space Development Agency of Japan’s Outstanding Service Award in 1992.

PUBLICATIONS: Published over 40 papers in the areas of chemical propulsion systems, electric propulsion systems, fluid dynamics, microgravity science and technology, and astronomy.

EXPERIENCE: Takao Doi studied space propulsion systems as a research student in the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in Japan from 1983 to 1985. He worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lewis Research Center as a National Research Council research associate in 1985.

Dr. Doi joined the National Space Development Agency (NASDA) of Japan in 1985 and has been working in the Japanese manned space program since then. He conducted research on microgravity fluid dynamics at the University of Colorado from 1987 to 1988, and at National Aerospace Laboratory in Japan in 1989 as a visiting scientist. In 1992, he served as a backup payload specialist for the Spacelab Japan mission (STS-47). In 1994, he worked as a project scientist on the International Microgravity Laboratory 2 mission (STS-65). Effective 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).

NASA EXPERIENCE: Dr. Doi was selected in 1985. He participated in payload specialist training from 1990 to 1992 in preparation for the Spacelab Japan mission. He reported to the Johnson Space Center in March 1995. On completing a year of training and evaluation he was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Vehicle Systems/Operations Branch and later the Astronaut Office International Space Station Branch. Dr. Doi was a mission specialist on STS-87 (November 19 to December 5, 1997) and is the first Japanese astronaut to perform an EVA (spacewalk). In completing his first mission, Dr. Doi logged 376 hours and 34 minutes in space, including 2 spacewalks totaling 12 hours and 43 minutes. Dr. Doi is assigned to the STS-123 mission that will deliver the first module of the Japanese laboratory, Kibo, and the Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator to the International Space Station. Dr. Doi’s duties will involve attachment and initial set-up of the Kibo Japanese Experiment Logistics Module.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-87 was the fourth U.S Microgravity Payload flight and focused on experiments designed to study how the weightless environment of space affects various physical processes, and on observations of the Sun’s outer atmospheric layers. Dr. Doi and Navy Captain Scott performed two EVA’s (spacewalks). The first, a 7 hour and 43 minute spacewalk featured the manual capture of a Spartan satellite, in addition to testing EVA tools and procedures for future Space Station assembly. The second spacewalk lasted 5 hours and also featured space station assembly tests. The mission was accomplished in 252 Earth orbits, traveling 6.5 million miles in 376 hours and 34 minutes.

Last Updated January 2007

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