First ever Japanese astronaut takes charge of International Space Station

Mr Wakata, 50, had been a space station flight engineer since he and two crew mates arrived on November 7.

"I am humbled to assume the command of the space station," Mr Wakata said during a change-of-command ceremony broadcast on NASA Television.

So far, four Japanese astronauts have served as space station crew members, including Mr Wakata, who previously flew in 2009, Mr Wakata also is a veteran of two space shuttle missions.

One of his first tasks as commander will be to oversee the arrival of a Space Exploration Technologies' Dragon cargo ship which is due to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida next Sunday and reach the station on March 18.

The station, a $100 billion research laboratory, flies about 260 miles above Earth. It has been permanently staffed by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts since November 2000.

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First ever Japanese astronaut takes charge of International Space Station