06/23/2026
For this week’s , we celebrate Chiaki Mukai, physician, astronaut, and researcher whose groundbreaking career has advanced space medicine and international cooperation in human spaceflight.
Born in Tatebayashi, Japan, Chiaki earned her medical degree from Keio University and later specialized in cardiovascular surgery. Before entering the astronaut corps, she worked as a physician and researcher, studying cardiovascular physiology and the effects of stress on the human body.
In 1985, she was selected by the National Space Development Agency of Japan, now JAXA, as one of Japan’s first astronauts. She made history in 1994 as the first Japanese woman to travel to space aboard Space Shuttle Columbia on the STS-65 mission. During the mission, she conducted numerous life sciences experiments that examined the effects of microgravity on the human body and living organisms.
Chiaki returned to space in 1998 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery as part of the STS-95 mission, which also carried astronaut John Glenn on his historic return to space. Across her two missions, she logged more than 566 hours in space and contributed to research that expanded our understanding of human physiology in microgravity.
Beyond her spaceflight achievements, Chiaki has held leadership positions within Japan’s space program, promoting international collaboration and advancing research in human space exploration. She has also served in academic and medical leadership roles, helping train future scientists, physicians, and aerospace professionals.
Chiaki Mukai’s career demonstrates the powerful connection between medicine and space exploration. Her pioneering contributions continue to inspire future generations of researchers, physicians, and astronauts around the world.
