Daisuke Enomoto attempted to become the fourth self-funded space tourist in 2006, planning a mission to the International Space Station that included experiments with Mobile Suit Gundam models. Although he completed training in Star City, Moscow, his journey was cut short by a disqualification that triggered a significant legal dispute regarding his financial investment.
Background and Professional Life
Born in 1971 in Matsudo, Japan, Daisuke Enomoto pursued a career as a businessman and entrepreneur. He received his education at Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa Senior High School. Beyond his standard corporate ventures, Enomoto gained prominence through his work as an executive at livedoor, a high-profile technology company.
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Enomoto aimed to reach the International Space Station aboard Soyuz TMA-9, with a scheduled launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Had he succeeded, he would have been the first space tourist from Japan and Asia. The mission, associated with the Expedition 14 crew, was intended to facilitate his participation in space exploration, drawing international attention due to his intent to wear a costume inspired by the character Char Aznable from the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam.
Disqualification and Legal Proceedings
On August 21, 2006, the Russian Federal Space Agency declared Enomoto unfit for flight for medical reasons. Iranian-American businesswoman Anousheh Ansari eventually replaced him on the mission. Following the cancellation, Enomoto initiated a lawsuit against Virginia-based firm Space Adventures to recover 21 million dollars paid over two years. Court filings identified chronic kidney stones as the primary medical concern. Space Adventures contended that Enomoto failed to treat the condition as advised, while Enomoto alleged that the medical justification served as a pretext for the company's demands for additional capital.
Fast facts
- Born: 1971, Matsudo
- Nationality: Japan
- Education: Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa Senior High School
- Planned Flight: Soyuz TMA-9
- Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome
- Legal Claim: 21 million dollars
Questions readers ask
Was Daisuke Enomoto the first Japanese person in space?
No. Journalist Toyohiro Akiyama traveled to space in 1990 on Soyuz TM-11.
Why was Enomoto denied his seat on the Soyuz mission?
The Russian Federal Space Agency cited chronic kidney stones, though Enomoto contested this justification in a lawsuit.
Achievements
- Educated at Ryutsu Keizai University Kashiwa Senior High School