Two Japanese, from All Nippon Airways and Defense Ministry respectively, have been picked as candidates for JAXA astronauts, said Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Wednesday.
The selection of Takuya Onishi, 33, and Kimiya Yui, 39, who are to qualify as astronauts after undergoing training at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and elsewhere, will raise to 10 the number of JAXA astronauts.
It is the first time that new Japanese astronaut candidates have been selected since 1999, when three astronaut candidates were chosen.
After being officially recognized as astronauts, the two will engage in scientific experiments at Japan's Kibo space laboratory at the International Space Station, as well as in the maintenance and operations of the station.
Onishi and Yui were selected out of 963 applicants after undergoing English language and other knowledge tests, medical and psychological screenings.
Source: Xinhua News Agency
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