Astronaut Kanai Describes Space Trip as “Nothing Special”

July 30, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese astronaut Norishige Kanai, who returned to Japan after ending a 166-day stay at the International Space Station, on Monday described his trip to space as "surprisingly" not out of the ordinary.

"Going to space was, surprisingly, nothing special," Kanai, 41, told a press conference at the Tokyo office of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.

He said he would like to tell the public that space will be a destination where many people can go for trips.

Kanai arrived at the ISS in December last year aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. After completing his mission, he returned to Earth on June 3 this year.

A former Maritime Self-Defense Force medical officer, Kanai conducted a number of experiments in space, such as growing crystallized proteins, which may lead to future drug discoveries.

Kanai said he was able to perform many experiments and achieve results as the tests were "assembly line operations in a good sense."

"Although people tend to see space as a different world, I've felt it's a place anyone can access," he added.

Kanai also recalled taking part in many medical experiments as a test subject.

He said that fellow astronauts asked him "every time" to be a subject for blood sampling.

He added, with a smile on his face, that he felt like he was "being used" but as a doctor enjoyed such moments. Jiji Press