The excitement for space never stops! A report on the “Astronaut Noguchi Mission Debriefing.” We bring you a precious two-and-a-half-hour event featuring JAXA Astronaut Soichi Noguchi and a lineup of distinguished guests!
Hello, everyone!
It has been six months since I joined the company in April, and every day is filled with new experiences. I am Komori, a new graduate employee.
In this article, I would like to introduce the “Astronaut Noguchi Mission Debriefing” held recently, which was part of the public relations activities I was involved in for JAXA Astronaut Soichi Noguchi (hereinafter referred to as Astronaut Noguchi).
We bring you a special look at the debriefing, which featured a succession of distinguished guests, including the editor of a highly popular manga and a person set to become the first Japanese civilian to stay on the ISS!
Astronaut Noguchi Mission Debriefing Key Visual
A total of 335 days on the ISS, the longest for any Japanese astronaut! An online event was held featuring Astronaut Noguchi, who has returned from his third journey into space!
On May 2 of this year, Astronaut Noguchi returned from his third mission to space. Many of you likely remember that his total stay on the ISS reached 335 days, setting a new record for the longest duration by a Japanese astronaut.
In light of this, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) held the “Astronaut Noguchi Mission Debriefing” to report on the results of the missions conducted during his third stay in space. Despite being held on a weekday evening, the event was viewed by a large audience.
The event opened with a special talk featuring Mr. Sadoshima, the talented editor involved in the popular manga “Space Brothers”! Viewers were thrilled by the behind-the-scenes stories.
© JAXA Event Live Streaming Channel
The first talk session of the event featured Yohei Sadoshima, who was involved in editing the popular manga “Space Brothers.” Interestingly, Mr. Sadoshima had interviewed Astronaut Noguchi ten years ago, around the time the serialization of “Space Brothers” began. During the talk, several secret anecdotes about the manga were revealed. For instance, the story of the “three-dimensional ant” depicted in the series originated from a drawing Astronaut Noguchi made on a paper napkin at a restaurant while dining with Mr. Sadoshima. The 20-minute session was captivating, showcasing their passionate thoughts on space and manga through a rhythmic dialogue that made the ten-year gap seem non-existent.
Mr. Noguchi, a space conductor after being an astronaut!? Former and current JAXA astronauts discuss the future of space in earnest
© JAXA Event Live Streaming Channel
In the middle of the event, Naoko Yamazaki, who stayed on the ISS at the same time as Astronaut Noguchi in 2010, made an appearance. Regarding the topic of “the future role of astronauts,” Astronaut Noguchi replied, “I believe that serving as a space tour conductor will be a great job in the future.” Meanwhile, Ms. Yamazaki stated, “I want to create a foundation where civilians can travel to space.”
The discussion between Mr. Noguchi, an active JAXA astronaut, and Ms. Yamazaki, who is currently promoting the space business at Space Port Japan, offered a vision of the future of space that was both fantastical and realistic, making for an exciting segment.
Yusaku Maezawa, who is scheduled to travel to and stay on the ISS as the first Japanese civilian astronaut, appeared live from Russia during his training!!
© JAXA Event Live Streaming Channel
To top it all off, at the end of the event, Yusaku Maezawa, who is scheduled to stay on the ISS this December as the first Japanese civilian astronaut, appeared live from Russia where he is currently training! This marked a special dialogue between Mr. Maezawa, who is set to blast off in December, and Astronaut Noguchi, who has just returned from space.
Speaking to Astronaut Noguchi while undergoing actual training in Russia, Mr. Maezawa expressed his candid thoughts, saying, “To be honest, I didn’t imagine the training would be this serious, difficult, and long-term,” showing his renewed respect for astronauts. In response, Astronaut Noguchi offered words of encouragement: “Being able to undergo the rigorous training of an actual astronaut is a precious experience in itself. That is the real thrill! You’re almost there, keep going!”
The event also featured a segment where questions from viewers were answered in real-time!
During the event, a segment was held to answer questions from viewers in real-time via the YouTube comment section.
In response to the question, “Do you feel fear when performing extravehicular activities (spacewalks)?”, Astronaut Noguchi replied: “I used to say I didn’t… but during this mission’s spacewalk, I went to the very edge of the ISS and leaned out from the handrail to work. Beyond the handrail was nothing but the pitch-black universe. No light reflects back from there. Not even the reflection of my headlight. I truly felt that I was standing on the boundary of the ‘world of nothingness’ by a single fingertip.”
It was a personally memorable scene where one could feel the reality behind the glamorous image of space, a perspective that only Astronaut Noguchi could provide.
Additionally, when asked about his ambitions for space ten years from now, he shared an exciting vision: “I want to look at the Earth while taking a bath on the Moon.”
Personally, I used to only have a vague sense that space was something “amazing.”
However, through this event and hearing firsthand accounts from Astronaut Noguchi and the many people involved in space development, I learned for the first time that there are so many people working desperately to make the impossible possible.
What is space like? How do the stars look? I want to see the Earth at least once. For those of you who feel this way, the day you actually reach space may not be in the so distant future.
I currently have a wonderful premonition that this is the case.
I am also delighted to have been involved, even in a small way, in this major project just six months after joining the company.
Finally, for those who thought “I missed it!” or “I wanted to see that!” while reading this article, I have good news. The archive of the “Astronaut Noguchi Mission Debriefing” is currently available on the official YouTube channel!
This debriefing is an experience that makes space feel much closer and makes you feel like you’ve become an astronaut just by watching. Please enjoy it during your time at home!
[Astronaut Noguchi Official SNS]
・Twitter: @Astro_Soichi
・Instagram: astro.soichi
・YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/astrosoichi
・Archive Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSLW9DCQSU8
About the Author
Public Relations Business Division, 3rd Unit Sports
Ayaka Komori
After graduating from Tokai University, Ayaka joined SUNNY SIDE UP in April of this year. She takes pride in the fact that people often tell her she seems to have no worries, a result of the “Bright, Friendly, and Energetic!” spirit she was taught to chant repeatedly at the swimming school she attended as an elementary student. Since joining the company, she has been involved in a wide range of fields, including space, sports brands, and fried chicken, gaining experience and facing new surprises every day.
*Affiliation is as of the time the article was written.
