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As a teenager in 1961, Mamoru Mohri, inspired by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s pioneering voyage in space, dreamt of becoming an astronaut.
The dream came true in 1985 when, at the age of 37, the eminent Japanese scientist was selected by the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) as a Spacelab-J payload specialist for the US/Japanese programme and began training as an astronaut.
In 1992, Dr Mohri became Japan’s first astronaut, conducting numerous scientific experiments on-board the NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour and reaching a wide audience from a televised "space classroom".
Eight years later, he again flew on Endeavour, this time as a mission specialist mapping millions of kilometres of the Earth’s land surface. His extensive research and academic background equipped Mohri for the 459 hours he logged in space: he previously served as an associate professor at the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Hokkaido University and as adjunct professor of physics at the University of Alabama’s Center for Microgravity and Materials Research.
Mohri’s lifelong dedication to education is exemplified by his work directing Japan’s Young Astronauts Club and, since 2000, by his association with Tokyo’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. As the museum’s first director, he is involving more people in science and technology. Dr Mohri has been widely honoured for his work and publications, including 14 books on his space missions and his scientific specialties. His guiding principle is: "Reach for the stars!" |
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