Norishige Kanai, 41, the youngest-ever Japanese astronaut, is set to join a three-person crew on the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft later this year. He will spend approximately six months on the International Space Station as part of Expedition 69. Kanai has been training at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia since 2021 and has already completed several parabolic flights to simulate the effects of microgravity. He is also the first Japanese astronaut to train in Russia under a new agreement between the two countries’ space agencies. The launch of the Soyuz MS-23 spacecraft is currently scheduled for September 2023. Once on the International Space Station, Kanai will conduct a variety of experiments and research projects. He will also be responsible for maintaining the station’s systems and performing spacewalks. Kanai’s mission is a significant milestone for Japan’s space program and a testament to the country’s continued commitment to human space exploration. He is expected to return to Earth in April 2024..
Japan’s youngest-ever candidate to head to space set to ride the Soyuz
