FURUKAWA Satoshi

Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.

Graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Tokyo. In 2000, received Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Science, also from the University of Tokyo.

Worked in the former First Department of Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital. In addition, worked in the departments of anesthesiology and surgery and engaged in clinical medicine and research in the department of gastrointestinal surgery at other hospitals.

Selected as one of three Japanese astronaut candidates to work on the ISS by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA, currently JAXA [Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency]) alongside Akihiko Hoshide and Naoko Sumino.

Commenced NASDA's Basic Training program.

Certified as an astronaut.

Participated in ISS Advanced Training.
Supported the development of the hardware and operations of Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module of the International Space Station (ISS).

Certified as a Soyuz-TMA flight engineer.
In June, dispatched to NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC), going through NASA's Astronaut Candidate training for roughly 20 months and commencing training as a Mission Specialist candidate with NASA.

Qualified as a Mission Specialist with NASA.

Participated in the 13th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) mission, an undersea expedition at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Aquarius habitat.

Assigned as a back-up crew member for ISS Expeditions 22 and 23 (known at the time as Expedition 20).

Assigned as a flight engineer for ISS Expeditions 28 and 29.

Spent approximately five and a half months aboard the ISS as a crew member with Expeditions 28 and 29. During this stay, in addition to conducting experiments using the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” and performing maintenance on the ISS, supported the final Space Shuttle mission, STS-135.

Appointed head of JAXA’s Space Biomedical Research Group, promoting research in the field of space medicine.

Assigned for another long-duration mission aboard the ISS, scheduled for 2023.

Boarded the Crew Dragon Spacecraft (Crew-7) Endurance and worked on the ISS for approximately six and a half months as a crew member of Expedition 69/70. Aboard the ISS and the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo,” conducted various experiments to improve life on Earth by using the microgravity environment of space, which cannot be replicated on Earth, and engaged in technology demonstrations for manned lunar exploration and beyond. Has accumulated a total of 366 days, 8 hours, and 34 minutes in space between his two trips.