Ryan Stanzel
Director of Communications
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
713.361.7930 (Direct Line)

DISCOVERY ASTRONAUT SOICHI NOGUCHI TO DROP PUCK SUNDAY

HOUSTON, Texas – Discovery astronaut Soichi Noguchi will drop the ceremonial puck at the Houston Aeros’ game Sunday at Toyota Center, the team announced Wednesday. Gametime against Milwaukee is 5:05 p.m.

Noguchi, a native of Chigaski, Kanagawa, Japan, reported to Johnson Space Center in August 1996. He flew on STS-114 Discovery (July 26-August 9, 2005) and has logged over 333 hours in space, including over 20 EVA hours.

STS-114 Discovery was the Return to Flight mission during which the Shuttle docked with the International Space Station and the crew tested and evaluated new procedures for flight safety and Shuttle inspection and repair techniques. Noguchi served as MS-1 and EV-1 and performed 3 EVAs (spacewalks) totaling 20 hours and 5 minutes. After a 2-week, 5.8 million mile journey in space, the orbiter and its crew of seven astronauts returned to land at Edwards Air Force Base, California.