Japanese astronaut to command space station in March

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA , Sept 9: – The first Japanese astronaut to live aboard the International Space Station is preparing for a return flight, this time to serve as commander, officials said on Wednesday. Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, is due to leave in November with a pair of veteran astronauts from the United States and Russia. (AGENCIES)