Payload Specialist Astronaut Bio: Chiaki Mukai 10/03

file:///jsc-ird-uweb/jscextern/Bios/PS/mukai.html[5/3/2017 8:21:31 PM]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center

Houston, Texas 77058

Biographical Data

CHIAKI MUKAI (M.D., PH.D.)

JAXA ASTRONAUT (PAYLOAD SPECIALIST)

PERSONAL DATA: Born May 6, 1952, in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Married to Makio Mukai, M.D.,

Ph.D. Recreational interests include snow skiing, Alpine competitive skiing, bass fishing, scuba diving, tennis, golf,

photography, American Literature, and traveling.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Keio Girlsâ€TM High School in Tokyo, in 1971. She received her doctorare in

Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 1977; a doctorate in physiology, Keio University School of Medicine,

1988; board certified as a cardiovascular surgeon, Japan Surgical Society, 1989.

ORGANIZATIONS: The American Aerospace Medical Association; Japan Society of Microgravity Applications;

Japan Society of Aerospace and Environmental Medicine; Japanese Society for Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery;

Japan Surgical Society.

SPECIAL HONORS: Outstanding Service Award - The Society of Japanese Women Scientist (1996), Special

Congressional Recognition - U.S. Congress (1995), Happy Hands Award - Satte Junior Chamber of Commerce (1995),

Aeromedical Association of Korea Honorary Membership (1995), Tatebayashi Childrenâ€TMs Science Exploratorium

Honorary President (1995), Prime Ministerâ€TMs Special Citation for Contributions to Gender Equality (1995), The De

La Vaux Medal - The Federation Aeronautique Internationale(1995), The Award for Distinguished Service in

Advancement of Space Biology - Japanese Society for Biological Sciences in Space (1995), Prime Ministerâ€TMs

Special Citation (1994), Minister of State for Science and Technologyâ€TMs Commendation (1994 & 1992), People of

Gunma Prefectureâ€TMs Certificate of Appreciation (1994), Honorary Citizen of Tatebayashi City (1994), Outstanding

Service Award - National Space Development Agency of Japan (1994 & 1992), Award for Distinguished

Accomplishments - Tokyo Womenâ€TMs Foundation ( 1994) and Commendation for Technology - Japan Society of

Aeronautical and Space Science ( 1993).

PUBLICATIONS: Dr. Mukai is credited with approximately sixty publications since 1979.

EXPERIENCE: Board certified for Medicine in 1977. From 1977 through 1978, Dr. Mukai worked as a Resident in

General Surgery, Keio University Hospital, Tokyo. She was on the Medical Staff in General Surgery, Shimizu General

Hospital, Shizuoka Prefecture in 1978, and on the Medical Staff in Emergency Surgery, Saiseikai Kanagawa Hospital,

Kanawaga Prefecture in 1979. Dr. Mukai began her work as a Resident in Cardiovascular Surgery, Keio University

Hospital in 1980 and served on the Medical Staff in Cardiovascular Surgery, Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital, Tochigi

Prefecture in 1982. She returned to Keio University Hospital in 1983 as the Chief Resident in Cardiovascular Surgery,

and was later promoted to Assistant Professor of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Keio University.

As a NASDA science astronaut, she was a visiting scientist at the Division of Cardiovascular Physiology, Space

Biomedical Research Institute, NASA Johnson Space Center, from 1987 to 1988. Dr. Mukai has remained a Research

Instructor of the Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, since 1992. From 1992 to 1998

she was a visiting associate professor of the Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, and in

1999 was promoted to a visiting professor of the university. 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).
Payload Specialist Astronaut Bio: Chiaki Mukai 10/03

file:///jsc-ird-uweb/jscextern/Bios/PS/mukai.html[5/3/2017 8:21:31 PM]

NASA EXPERIENCE: In 1985, Dr. Mukai was selected as one of three Japanese Payload Specialist candidates for the

First Material Processing Test (Spacelab-J) which flew aboard STS-47. She also served as a back-up payload specialist

for the Neurolab (STS-90) mission. Dr. Mukai has logged over 566 hours in space. She flew aboard STS-65 in 1994 and

STS-95 in 1998. She is the first Japanese woman to fly in space, and the first Japanese astronaut to fly twice. Dr. Mukai

was assigned to the deputy mission scientist for STS-107. In that capacity she coordinated science operations for this

science mission.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-65 Columbia (July 8-23, 1994) was the second International Microgravity

Laboratory (IML-2) flight. The mission consisted of 82 investigations of Space Life Science (Human Physiology, Space

Biology, Radiation Biology, and Bioprocessing) and Microgravity Science (Material Science, Fluid Science and

Research on the Microgravity Environment and Countermeasures). IML-2 was also designated as an extended duration

orbit mission focusing on medical experiments related to the cardiovascular system, autonomic nerve system, and bone

and muscle metabolism. The mission was accomplished in 236 orbits of the Earth, traveling over 6.1 million miles in

353 hours and 55 minutes.

STS-95 Discovery (October 29 to November 7, 1998) was a 9-day mission during which the crew supported a variety of

research payloads including deployment of the Spartan solar-observing spacecraft, the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital

Systems Test Platform, and investigations on space flight and the aging process. STS-95 is scheduled for launch in

October 1998. The mission was accomplished in 134 Earth orbits, traveling 3.6 million miles in 213 hours and 44

minutes.

OCTOBER 2003

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual.