Reach for Your Stars at Questacon

16 October 2008

Dr Mamoru Mohri, Japanese astronaut and Executive Director of Miraikan, Japans’ National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo today presented a special lecture on his experiences in space. The lecture was the latest in a program of events celebrating Questacon’s 20th anniversary.

In his lecture, ‘Reach for your Stars’, Dr Mohri spoke about realising his childhood dream to become an astronaut and the fun to be found in science and research in space. Dr Mohri also spoke of his time as an astronaut of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and his experiences aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during cooperative missions between Japan and the United States. Dr Mohri presented his lecture twice, once in English and then later in Japanese.

Questacon Director Professor Graham Durant said Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre was delighted to host Dr Mohri as part of the Centre’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

“Dr Mohri has been instrumental in promoting science in both Japan and Australia for many years. Questacon and Miraikan share a common interest in encouraging innovation and scientific exploration and we look forward to continuing the great collaborative relationship between the two centres.

“Dr Mohri’s visit is another in a series of events to celebrate Questacon’s 20th anniversary and our ongoing relationship with Japan,“ said Professor Durant.

Dr Mohri was Japan’s first astronaut to go into space and has participated in two space missions logging more than 450 hours in space.

During his first mission aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour Dr Mohri conducted more than 40 Spacelab experiments with NASA astronauts. He also conducted a ‘Space Classroom’ that was broadcast live to the children of Japan during the eight day mission.

Dr Mohri was appointed an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia in 2006 in recognition of his service to Australia-Japan education and science relations.

Questacon opened in 1988 as a joint Australia-Japan Bicentennial Project. The Japanese Government and business community contributed half the cost of the building, the hub for Questacon’s national and international activities.