National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas 77058
Biographical Data

Soichi Noguchi
JAXA Astronaut

PERSONAL DATA: Born in 1965 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. Considers Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan, to be his hometown. Enjoys basketball, skiing, camping, and flying. Holds flight instructor certificate as CFII and MEI.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Chigasaki-Hokuryo High School, Chigasaki, in 1984; received a bachelor of engineering degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1989, and a master of engineering degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1991.

ORGANIZATIONS: Member of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences.

EXPERIENCE: Noguchi joined Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. ( IHI) in April 1991. He completed a training course in the Manufacturing Department, and then he was assigned to the Aerodynamics Group, Research and Development Department, Aero-Engine and Space Operations, IHI. He was involved in the aerodynamic design of commercial aero-engines, planning and successful completion of the component tests of aero-engines, and the research of compressor aerodynamic performance. He was selected by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) in June 1996. 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: Noguchi reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, he is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. He participated in the basic training course for Russian manned space systems at Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia in 1998. He then continued MS advanced training at JSC and was also assigned technical duties to support the Japanese Experiment Module (Kibo) development tests. In April 2001, he was assigned to the crew of STS-114. He flew on STS-114 Discovery (July 26-August 9, 2005) and has logged over 333 hours in space, including over 20 EVA hours. Noguchi is assigned to the Expedition 20 International Space Station mission, scheduled to launch on a Soyuz spacecraft in November 2009. He will join the Expedition 20 mission in progress and will serve a 6-month tour of duty as a flight engineer. He currently serves as a back-up Expedition 18 crew member.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-114 Discovery (July 26-August 9, 2005) was the Return to Flight mission during which the Shuttle docked with the International Space Station and the crew tested and evaluated new procedures for flight safety and Shuttle inspection and repair techniques. Noguchi served as MS-1 and EV-1 and performed 3 EVAs (spacewalks) totaling 20 hours and 5 minutes. After a 2-week, 5.8 million mile journey in space, the orbiter and its crew of seven astronauts returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California.