Ayu Yoneda
Ayu Yoneda | |
|---|---|
| 米田 あゆ | |
| Born | 1995 (age 29–30) Tokyo, Japan |
| Education | University of Tokyo (M.D.) |
| Space career | |
| JAXA astronaut | |
Previous occupation | Physician |
| Selection | 2023 JAXA Group |
Ayu Yoneda (Japanese: 米田 あゆ, born 1995) is a Japanese physician and JAXA astronaut. She was selected as part of JAXA's sixth astronaut group in February 2023 and completed her basic astronaut training in October 2024.
Early life and education
Yoneda was born in Tokyo in 1995. She attended high school in Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture and also studied abroad in Switzerland during high school.[1]
She graduated from the University of Tokyo with a Doctor of Medicine degree in March 2019.[2]
Medical career
After graduating, Yoneda worked at the University of Tokyo Hospital. In April 2021, she joined the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center as a surgeon. In October 2022, she transferred to Toranomon Hospital, where she remained until her resignation in March 2023 to join JAXA.[2]
Astronaut career
On 28 February 2023, Yoneda and Makoto Suwa were selected by JAXA from a record pool of 4,127 applicants to join its astronaut program.[3] At 28 years old, she became the youngest person ever selected by the agency and the third Japanese woman to be chosen as an astronaut, following Chiaki Mukai and Naoko Yamazaki.[3]
Yoneda began basic training in April 2023 and officially joined JAXA that month.[2] In September 2024, she underwent robotics training at the Canadian Space Agency in Longueuil, Quebec, where she practiced operating the Canadarm2 robotic arm.[4] She completed her training and was certified as a full-fledged JAXA astronaut in October 2024.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "宇宙飛行士候補に選ばれた米田あゆさん 元担任らが喜びを語る" [Ayu Yoneda, who was selected as an astronaut candidate, her former homeroom teacher talks about her joy]. NHK (in Japanese). 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2023.
- ^ a b c "Ayu Yoneda". JAXA. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ a b Osaki Exum, Anika (28 February 2023). "28-year-old woman picked to be astronaut by Japan's space agency". The Japan Times. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "JAXA astronaut candidates complete robotics training at CSA". Canadian Space Agency. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ Benoza, Kathleen (23 October 2024). "Japan's lunar ambitions advance with two new astronauts". The Japan Times. Retrieved 4 August 2025.