Mukai, Chiaki (1952–)
Mukai, Chiaki (1952–)
Japanese astronaut. Born May 6, 1952, in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan; Keio University School of Medicine, PhD in medicine, 1977, PhD in physiology, 1988; m. Mako Mukai.
Japan's 1st female astronaut, became board certified as a cardiovascular surgeon (1989); was a visiting scientist at Division of Cardiovascular Physiology, Space Biomedical Research Institute, NASA (1987–88); became research instructor at Baylor (1992); was a visiting associate professor of Department of Surgery at Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo (1992–98), then promoted to visiting professor (1999); was selected as one of three Japanese Payload Specialist candidates (1985); was on the Columbia mission (July 8-23, 1994); was a member of the Discovery crew 10-day mission (Oct 29-Nov 7, 1998).