Space Station Crew Member Discusses Life in Space with Japanese Students

TL;DR

Astronaut Takuya Onishi talks about his experiences in space, including the challenges and benefits, and discusses the importance of future space exploration.

Transcript

station this is Houston are you ready for the event I'm ready for the event Japan aerospace exploration agency this is Mission Control Houston please call station for a voice check this is in pinku how do you yummy here the Sun I can hear you loud and clear Yoko Amos you're a super nice mouth I hear you loud and clear good evening mr. Onishi I am R... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🚀 Astronauts in space undergo long and strenuous training, similar to pilots, emphasizing the importance of safety and teamwork.
• 👾 The space environment is very different from Earth, with various challenges such as adjusting to weightlessness and different body changes.
• 👾 The need for a safe environment in space is crucial for future space exploration with more individuals.
• 👨‍🚀 The space station provides an incredible view of Earth, including man-made artifacts like big buildings and airports.
• 👾 Future experiments in space could play a significant role in developing drugs and creating improved materials on Earth.
• 👨‍🚀 The speed of hair growth is believed to be the same in space and on Earth, but astronauts prefer shorter hair due to the limited use of water in space.
• 🧑‍🚀 The regulation regarding astronaut height changed due to the different landing methods of the Space Shuttle and the Soyuz spacecraft.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were you thinking during the rocket launch?

Onishi shares that he was calm and waiting for the launch. The vibration of the rocket was not significant, but he was surprised by the strong impact during jettisoning.

Q: How does your former job as an airplane pilot help you in the International Space Station (ISS)?

Onishi explains that being a pilot and astronaut have similarities, such as the importance of safety and the need for teamwork. He also mentions that controlling robotic arms is similar to controlling an airplane.

Q: What kind of activities do you do in space during your free time?

Onishi enjoys listening to music, looking down at Earth, and watching movies. He mentions that the movie "Star Wars" inspired his interest in space as a child.

Q: How did the change in environment affect you physically and mentally?

Onishi mentions that his height increased and he experienced back pain during the adjustment period. He explains the challenges of the different body changes in space and how it affected his thinking ability.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Takuya Onishi launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and has been in space for 75 days, adjusting well to the space environment.

• Onishi discusses his calmness during rocket launch and the surprise of the strong impact during jettisoning.

• He explains how his background as an airplane pilot helped him in his role as an astronaut, emphasizing the importance of teamwork.