Astronaut Koichi Wakata will receive a prime minister's award for his contribution to the completion of Japan's first manned space laboratory at the International Space Station, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Friday.
Wakata stayed 4 1/2 months at the ISS and "carried out an extremely important mission" in completing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo (Hope) space laboratory, the government's top spokesman said.
"He contributed to space development and the utilization and promotion of space for international cooperation," Hirano told reporters.
"Through such activity, he offered great dreams and hopes to people, especially youngsters, and made remarkable contributions to increasing their interest in space."
The ceremony will be held Wednesday morning at the prime minister's office, according to Hirano.
During his 138-day trip in space that began March 15, Wakata completed the Kibo lab and conducted a series of scientific experiments as a flight engineer. He returned to Earth on the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour on July 31.