Koichi WAKATA

Axiom Space, LLC • Astronaut and Chief Technology Officer, Asia-Pacific

Koichi Wakata currently serves as Astronaut and Chief Technology Officer of the Asia-Pacific region at Axiom Space. A veteran astronaut with decades of human spaceflight experience, Wakata leads the expansion of Axiom Space's business and strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region and contributes to the advancement of Axiom Station, a commercial space station, and building a global space ecosystem.

He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, a Master of Science in Applied Mechanics and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from Kyushu University. Wakata’s astronaut career includes five spaceflights logging 504 days in space on four different spacecraft (Space Shuttle; ISS; Soyuz; Crew Dragon), three long-duration stays on the ISS, two EVAs, and operations of four robotic systems. He became the first Japanese ISS commander and served in management positions at JAXA and NASA in flight operations as well as in the ISS and lunar exploration programs including NASA Astronaut Office ISS Operations Branch Chief, JAXA Astronaut Group Chief, JAXA ISS Program Manager, JAXA Human Spaceflight Technology Center Director, and JAXA Vice President for Human Space Technology.

Events

77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026)

5 - 9 October 2026

Antalya, Türkiye

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2025

29 September - 3 October 2025

Sydney, Australia

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2024

14-18 October 2024

Milan, Italy

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2023

2-6 October 2023

Baku, Azerbaijan

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2019

21-25 October 2019

Washington, United States

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2018

1–5 October 2018

Bremen, Germany

Participation:

International Astronautical Congress 2017

25-29 September 2017

Adelaide, Australia

Participation:

Participation