Soichi Noguchi
Soichi Noguchi (born 1965) is a Japanese astronaut, scheduled to fly his first space mission aboard NASA's STS-114 in 2005.
Born in Yokohama, Japan, Noguchi graduated from Chigasaki-Hokuryo High School, in Chigasaki, in 1984, and then studied at the University of Tokyo, earning a bachelor's degree in 1989 and a master's degree in 1991, both in aeronautical engineering.
After graduation, Noguchi worked for Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, assigned to the research and development department of their Aero-Engine and Space Operations division, working on aerodynamic design of commercial engines. He was selected as an astronaut candidate by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (now part of JAXA) in June 1996.
He reported to NASA's Johnson Space Center for training beginning in August 1996, qualifying as a mission specialist after two years, as well as training on Russian space systems at Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 1998. He was assigned to technical support for the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station and then, in April 2001, to the crew of STS-114 as a mission specialist.
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Categories: 1965 births | Japanese astronauts