The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has certified 29-year-old Yoneda Ayu and 47-year-old Suwa Makoto as official JAXA astronauts.

Yoneda and Suwa were chosen as astronaut candidates in February 2023 and have since undergone training and screening.

The agency announced on October 22 that their certifications were dated the previous day.

The two Japanese astronauts will soon be based at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to receive training for future space flight missions.

JAXA astronaut group leader Kanai Norishige welcomed his new colleagues, saying he looks forward to opening a new era of manned space exploration with them.