 Completion of this initial training qualified him for various technical assignments within the NASA Astronaut Office and for flight assignment as a Mission Specialist on Space Shuttle missions.In August 2007, Furukawa served as an aquanaut during the project, an exploration research mission held in Aquarius, the world's only undersea research laboratory.Furukawa was assigned as a flight engineer to the International Space Station Expedition 28/29 long duration missions.