Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, who has been staying on the International Space Station since last year, conveyed words of gratitude from space before returning to Earth on the 12th, Japan time.
Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa is scheduled to return to Earth on the 12th, Japan time, along with the three astronauts he has been working with.
Prior to this, a handover ceremony was held at the space station in the early hours of the 11th, Japan time, with all the astronauts staying there.
In the message, Mr. Furukawa said, ``I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and consideration.It seems like yesterday that I arrived here, and I feel sad.But don't worry.My friends will take over, and I will return to Earth.'' "I would like to convey the results of the mission even after this event," he said in English.
Afterwards, he expressed his gratitude in Japanese, saying, ``Thank you to everyone who supported me. I look forward to speaking with you after I return home.''
During his stay, Mr. Furukawa conducted a variety of activities, including experiments to create high-quality protein crystals that will lead to the development of new drugs, and experiments with an eye toward future exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Mr. Furukawa and four others will leave the International Space Station in a spacecraft in the early hours of the 12th, Japan time, and are scheduled to return to Earth 18 and a half hours later.