Astronaut Takao Doi will join a space shuttle mission in late 2007 that will deliver the first components of Japan's space laboratory to the International Space Station, according to science minister Kenji Kosaka.
NASA officially conveyed its decision to include a Japanese astronaut and its selection of veteran Doi, 51, as one of the crew members for the two-week mission during a meeting Friday between Kosaka and NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, Kosaka said at a news conference.
Griffin said another Japanese, Naoko Yamazaki, 35, has been selected to join the mission as part of the ground staff, according to Kosaka.