Ceremony to Present the Minister of Foreign Affair’s Commendation to Former JAXA Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa
2026/10/8
Former JAXA Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa
Presentation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Commendation to Former JAXA Astronaut Furukawa by Foreign Minister Motegi
On October 1, the Foreign Minister’s Commendation Ceremony was held at the Iikura Guest House of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. Dr. Satoshi Furukawa, a former astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) who was based in Houston (and is now a specially appointed professor at Kyorin University), was presented with the Foreign Minister’s Commendation in recognition of his contributions to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.
Dr. Furukawa joined JAXA—then known as the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)—as an astronaut in 1999. During his first mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from June to November 2011, he spent 167 days in space, where he conducted various experiments in the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" and was involved in operational support for missions including STS-135, the final mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Then, from August 2023 to March 2024, he spent an additional 199 days aboard the ISS, during which he contributed to the deepening of international cooperation and the advancement of science and technology through initiatives that included the development of three-dimensional organ fabrication technology and technical demonstrations in support of future crewed lunar exploration.
Dr. Furukawa joined JAXA—then known as the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA)—as an astronaut in 1999. During his first mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from June to November 2011, he spent 167 days in space, where he conducted various experiments in the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" and was involved in operational support for missions including STS-135, the final mission of Space Shuttle Atlantis. Then, from August 2023 to March 2024, he spent an additional 199 days aboard the ISS, during which he contributed to the deepening of international cooperation and the advancement of science and technology through initiatives that included the development of three-dimensional organ fabrication technology and technical demonstrations in support of future crewed lunar exploration.