Text Box:       Text Box: SKC Exclusive Interview Stefanie Wakata Wife of Koichi Wakata, Mission Specialist Currently aboard the International Space Station STS—119 : Discovery Text Box: Koichi and you have one young son. How do you keep life continuing normally at home when Koichi is in space? We can’t put work, school and all the other activities surrounding us on hold, especially not for a few months. Our family routine helps us stay focused on our responsibilities. We do look forward to daily tag-ups with Koichi via phone and to weekly video conferences and have integrated these occasions into our daily schedule. What gives you the strength to handle both the mom and dad duties while Koichi is away? I have always found that having my own life and independence are important factors to coping with the challenges of Koichi’s job. This and our support network have helped me tremendously to take on the role of the single parent. Hats off to all those who don’t have a partner to depend on while raising their children. It’s a very hard thing to do and I have to deal with it only temporarily. In general, I am not trying to replace Dad. For some of the dad duties, I have the option to call on a friend. But I’m trying to be as strong of a mom as I can! How do you handle loneliness for you – and your son? Our life is so busy that we rarely get lonely. Whenever we do, we go and do something fun. A movie, dinner at a favorite restaurant, visits with friends can save the mood of the day quickly. Again, our friendships have been invaluable throughout this experience. How do you handle the fear of something possibly going wrong with the mission? Many dangers exist in our current time. You could consider leaving the house a threat. Yet, we go about our lives and try not to panic about eventual dangers. Leaving all anxiety behind is probably difficult, but we have to see things in perspective. Hundreds of dedicated people in the space program are working on minimizing the risk. Assuming an elimination of risk is not realistic. At one point, we have to trust the program that puts all these systems and people into space. Preparing for the worst case in a far corner of my mind helps me while I hope that this worst case never comes. What is the most difficult thing you have had to handle while Koichi was away? Throughout his current mission, but also while he was in training overseas, I have been always “on call” for all activities, including the coordination of our daily life, child care and education. I do feel the desire to make this a shared responsibility again. I have also missed face-to-face conversations and exchange of views and inner thoughts during Koichi’s long stretches of absence. What is it like being the wife of a famous Japanese astronaut? Keeping my own identity and career has always been a goal of mine ever since we met. I don’t feel differently from other spouses of individuals in various professional fields. Two myths seem to exist with regard to the life of astronauts – that they make a fortune and that they are “gods”. Whenever I get the opportunity, I attest that neither is the case. We lead a busy and eventful, yet normal family life and cope with everyday challenges just like most people do.

Stefanie and Koichi touring the launch pad days before launch

You are from Germany and Koichi is from Japan.  How did you meet?

We met more than 20 years ago when I was in Fukuoka, Japan, as a research student at Kyushu University. I had a couple more weeks left before I had to return home to Germany when we met by chance.

Behind every good man is a good woman….How have you helped Koichi in becoming who he is today?

It is essential in every relationship to back each other. This has to be a mutual effort, or else one will fall behind. I therefore rephrase the metaphor and say that we walk through life side by side.

Being different in character and also coming from two different cultures, we have helped each other broaden our horizon and accept diverse views. Learning to see the world through the eyes of the other has become a very useful tool for our international life style.

This time Koichi will be in space for more than 3 months.  What are some of the emotions you go through while he is gone?

In fact, the years of training for his current mission have been much harder on our family life than his actual stay in space seems to be. We know that this is what he has worked for, and the end is in sight now. Still, he is missed for so many activities, of course. The hardest part for us is probably not to be able to pick up the phone and call him when we feel like talking to him.  He calls us, but often at times when we are busy based on the different time schedule of the ISS. Due to his workload, he often does not have much time to talk. These circumstances make it somewhat difficult to get each other’s undivided attention for profound conversations.

A long awaited moment – the Wakata’s are watching Koichi’s launch to the ISS aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on March 15, 2009

Watch the video of the space shuttle Discovery launched on March 15, 2009 at 7:43 p.m. EDT.