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Tokyo, August 10, 2024 – Japanese astronaut Takuya onishi successfully concluded his second mission to the International Space Station (ISS) today, returning to Earth after approximately five months in orbit. The safe return marks a meaningful achievement for Japan’s space program and contributes valuable research data from Onishi’s time aboard the station.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, carrying Onishi, 49, along with NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli, Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency, and Satoshi Furukawa, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 12:33 a.m. Japan time on August 10th. The landing site was approximately 200 nautical miles southwest of Los Angeles.
Shortly after landing, recovery teams opened the capsule’s hatch, revealing Onishi in good spirits, smiling and waving to cameras. He underwent initial medical checks aboard the recovery vessel, the USNS John S. McCain, before being transported for further evaluation at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
Onishi’s mission, which began in March 2024, saw him become the third Japanese astronaut to command the ISS, taking over from NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick in April. During his tenure, he oversaw numerous scientific experiments, including research into bone loss in microgravity, plant growth in space, and advanced materials advancement. He also welcomed fellow Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, 55, to the ISS on August 2nd, marking a historic moment for Japanese space exploration.
The Crew dragon capsule detached from the ISS at 7:15 a.m. Japan time on August 9th, initiating the journey back to Earth. The capsule endured intense heat during atmospheric re-entry, protected by its heat shield, before deploying parachutes for a controlled splashdown. this mission utilized Crew Dragon Resilience, a reusable spacecraft previously flown on Crew-1 and Crew-2 missions.
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
