Can’t Stop Getting Excited about Space! Report on “Astronaut Soichi Noguchi Mission Debriefing event” featuring JAXA Astronaut Soichi Noguchi and splendid guests for two and a half precious hours!
Hello everyone! I’m Komori! It’s been half a year since I joined the company in April, and every day is full of new things for me.
This time, I would like to introduce the “Astronaut Soichi Noguchi Mission Debriefing Event” that I was recently involved in as part of JAXA Astronaut Soichi Noguchi’s (hereinafter referred to as “Astronaut Noguchi”) PR activities.
I would like to specially report on the event, which was attended by a number of gorgeous guests, including the editor of a very popular manga and the first Japanese commercial astronaut who is about to stay on the ISS!
Astronaut Noguchi Mission Debriefing Event key visual
The longest stay on the ISS by a Japanese astronaut, of 335 days! Astronaut Noguchi, who returned from space for the third time, holds an online event!
On May 2 this year, Astronaut Noguchi returned from space for the third time, staying on the ISS for a total of 335 days, breaking the record for the longest stay by a Japanese astronaut.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) held the “Astronaut Noguchi Mission Debriefing Event” to report the results of Noguchi’s mission during his third stay in space. Despite being a weekday evening, the event was watched by many people.
The event opened with a special talk with Mr. Sadoshima, a talented editor who was involved in editing the popular manga “Space Brothers”! The untold secret episode got the audience very excited!
©JAXA Event Live Streaming Channel
The first talk session, which opened the event, featured Yohei Sadoshima, who was involved in editing the popular manga “Space Brothers.” Mr. Sadoshima actually interviewed Astronaut Noguchi 10 years ago, when “Space Brothers” was first serialized. During the talk, he shared some secret “Space Brothers” episodes. For example, the story of the “three-dimensional ants” in “Space Brothers” started when Astronaut Noguchi and Sadoshima went to a restaurant and Noguchi drew the ants on a paper napkin on the table. It was a very hot 20-minute talk that no one could take their eyes off.
A space conductor for the next career?! Former and current JAXA astronauts seriously discuss about the future of space
©JAXA Event Live Streaming Dedicated Channel
In the middle of the event, Naoko Yamazaki, who stayed on the ISS simultaneously with Astronaut Noguchi in 2010, appeared on stage. On the subject of the future role of astronauts, Noguchi mentioned, “I think that being a space tour conductor is also a good job for me in the future.” On the other hand, Yamazaki said, “I would like to create an environment for normal citizens to be able to go to space.”
Noguchi as a JAXA astronaut, and Yamazaki who is currently promoting the space business at the general incorporated association “Space Port Japan”. The future of space, as presented from their respective perspectives, was both somewhat fantastical and somewhat realistic, and the content was exciting.
Mr. Yusaku Maezawa, the first Japanese private citizen astronaut scheduled to travel to and stay on the ISS, appeared live from Russia, where he is in training!
©JAXA Event Live Streaming Channel
Yusaku Maezawa, who is scheduled to become the first Japanese private civilian astronaut to travel to and stay on the ISS this December, appeared live from Russia, where he is in training.
Mr. Maezawa, who is currently undergoing training in Russia spoke frankly, saying, “To be honest, I never imagined that training would be so serious, hard, and long-term,” and again expressed his respect for the astronauts. In response, Astronaut Noguchi gave a shout-out to Mr. Maezawa and said “It is one of the precious experiences to undergo the hard training of actual astronauts. That is the real thrill! You are almost there, keep up the good work!.”
During the event, there was a section where questions from the audience were answered in real time!
During the event, Noguchi answered questions from the audience in real time via the YouTube comment section!
In response to the question, “Do you have any fear when you do extravehicular activity?” Noguchi replied, “I’ve always said that I have no fear… But this time, I went to the very end of the ISS and leaned over the handrail to do some work. Beyond the handrail was a pitch-black universe. There was no light coming back from beyond. Not even the reflection of headlights. I felt that I was standing at the boundary of the ‘world of emptiness’ with just one fingertip” he responded.
It was a scene that left a deep impression on me personally, as I could feel the reality of the glamorous image of space, which only Astronaut Noguchi could describe.
He also expressed his exciting ambition to “see the Earth while taking a bath on the moon” as what he would like to do in space 10 years from now.
I myself originally only had a vague image of space.
However, through this event, I learned for the first time that there are so many people who are working hard to make the impossible possible by hearing firsthand the stories of Astronaut Noguchi and many other people involved in space development.
It made me wonder what space is like, what the stars look like, and how great it would be to be able to see the Earth at least once. For those of you who think the same, the day when you actually reach space and see the earth may not be too far in the future.
I am now feeling such a happy premonition.
And I am happy that I was able to be involved in even a small way in this big project only six months after joining the company.
Lastly, I have good news for those of you who thought, “I missed it!” “I wished I could’ve seen it.” The archive of “Astronaut Noguchi’s mission debriefing event” is now available on the official YouTube channel!
Just by watching it, you will feel closer to space, and you will feel as if you are an astronaut yourself. Please take a look at it!
Astronaut Noguchi’s official Social Media
Twitter: @Astro_Soichi
Instagram: astro.soichi
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/astrosoichi
Archived video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSLW9DCQSU8
