Happy Women's Map 千葉県松戸市 日本女性2人目の宇宙飛行士 山崎 直子 女史 /The Second Japanese Woman Astronaut, Ms. Naoko Yamazaki
「正解はひとつではない 」
"The answer is not singular."
山崎（旧姓 角野） 直子
Ms. Naoko Yamazaki / Sumino
1970 -
千葉県松戸市 生誕
Born in Matsudo-city, Tiba-ken
日本女性2人目の宇宙飛行士。宇宙飛行士の訓練ならびに子育てのマルチタスクをこなしながら、世界各国と連携して宇宙ステーションでの様々なミッションを成功させました。
The Second Japanese Woman in Space. Juggling astronaut training and parenting, she successfully collaborated with nations worldwide, accomplishing various missions on the International Space Station.
「私が宇宙船を造る！」
直子は自衛官の父と専業主婦の母と兄と一緒に、幼いころから星の観察会またプラネタリウムに出かけたり、宇宙戦艦ヤマト・銀河鉄道999・スターウォーズなどSFアニメや映画を見て宇宙にあこがれます。女性高校教師で宇宙飛行士のクリスタ・マコーリフさんの宇宙授業を楽しみにしていた直子は、1986年スペースシャトル・チャレンジャー号が打ち上げから１分で空中爆発する報道を見て、「私が宇宙船を造る！」と決意。
「私が宇宙飛行士になる！」
直子はお茶の水女子大学附属高校に進学、次に東京大学工学部で女子３人のみの航空学科を専攻。自然科学系の実験をこなしながら機械操作の技量を磨きます。卒業研究では、円形に並べた客室を回転させ人工重力を楽しむ宇宙ホテルを設計。さらに航空宇宙工学修士課程に進んで宇宙ロボットの自己学習機能ソフトを研究します。湾岸戦争を理由に猛反対する両親を1年かけて説得、１年間を宇宙ロボットの研究が盛んなアメリカのメリーランド州立大学にも留学します。直子は留学先で70代で現役ヘリコプターパイロットの女性に出会い、「私も宇宙飛行士になる！」決意します。
「宇宙飛行士ママと呼ばないで」
大学院卒業後、当時のＮＡＳＤＡ（宇宙開発事業団）、現在のＪＡＸＡ（宇宙航空研究開発機構）に就職。エンジニアとして、米国やロシア・カナダ・欧州諸国の様々な分野の技術を一つのシステムにまとめ上げます。3年目に「宇宙飛行士候補者」に応募。つくば宇宙センター内専用施設で１週間外部から遮断され、ライバル8人で共同生活しながら試験官が繰り出す課題に取り組みます。2回目で合格すると、訓練期間中に妊娠・出産を経てマルチタスクをこなしながら、11年目にようやくスペースシャトルのディスカバリー号に乗り込みます。
「日本から宇宙へ扉を開く！」
秒読み終了後、すさまじい轟音とともに８分30秒で地上から高度400kmの宇宙に到達。体がふわっと浮き上がって、塵や埃までもが宙に浮き美しく光に照らされます。直子は、地上管制官のサポートのもと、イタリア製・多目的補給モジュール『レオナルド』を、カナダ製・ロボットアームを使って、国際宇宙ステーション内アメリカの実験棟『デスティニー』に接続する作業を成功させます。地球帰還後は、宇宙での滞在経験を踏まえて、宇宙旅行の実現はじめ、常識を疑い発想の幅を広げながら多様な分野で多様な人々と宇宙への道を開拓し続けています。
" I will build a spaceship!"
Naoko, along with her father, a self-defense officer, her mother, a full-time homemaker, and her brother, has been fascinated by the universe since childhood. They often went to star observation events and planetariums, and Naoko developed a deep admiration for space through SF anime and movies such as Space Battleship Yamato, Galaxy Express 999, and Star Wars. As a high school teacher, Naoko looked forward to astronaut Christa McAuliffe's space lessons. However, in 1986, she witnessed the news of the Space Shuttle Challenger exploding in mid-air just one minute after liftoff. This event fueled her determination to build a spaceship herself.
"I will become an astronaut!"
Naoko enrolled in Ochanomizu University High School, then pursued a degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Tokyo, specializing in a department with only three female students. While excelling in experiments in the natural sciences, she honed her skills in mechanical operations. For her graduation research, she designed a space hotel where rooms arranged in a circle could rotate, providing artificial gravity. She furthered her studies in aerospace engineering, researching self-learning functions for space robots. Despite strong opposition from her parents due to the Gulf War, Naoko spent a year persuading them and eventually studied abroad at the University of Maryland, known for its active research in space robotics. During her stay, she met a woman in her 70s who was an active helicopter pilot, inspiring Naoko to become an astronaut.
"Don't call me 'Astronaut Mom'"
After graduating from graduate school, Naoko joined NASDA (National Space Development Agency), now known as JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). As an engineer, she consolidated technologies from various fields in the United States, Russia, Canada, and European countries into a single system. In her third year, she applied to become an astronaut candidate. Isolated in a facility within the Tsukuba Space Center for a week, she lived with eight rivals, tackling challenges set by examiners. She passed on her second attempt, and during the training period, she managed to handle multitasks, including pregnancy and childbirth. In her 11th year, she finally boarded the Space Shuttle Discovery.
"I will open the door from Japan to space!"
After the countdown, accompanied by a tremendous roar, Naoko reached the vastness of space at an altitude of 400 km in just 8 minutes and 30 seconds. Her body floated gently, and even particles and dust seemed to dance weightlessly, beautifully illuminated by the gentle glow of light. With the support of ground control, Naoko successfully carried out the task of connecting the Italian-made multipurpose supply module 'Leonardo' to the American experimental module 'Destiny' within the International Space Station, using the Canadian-made robotic arm. Upon returning to Earth, Naoko, fueled by her experience in space, expressed her determination, she began working towards realizing space travel and, with an open mind and expanded perspectives, continued to pioneer the path to space across diverse fields and with people from various backgrounds.
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