|
|||||
 | |||||
On Oct. 20, 2000 - at about 10:00 p.m. CDT, Japanese astronaut Wakata e-mailed from Discovery to the people who e-mailed messages of support to him through the STS-92 home page. (Japanese language) Thanks to all of you for your messages of support It has been over 4.6 billion years since the Earth was born. Now we live together on this beautiful home planet Earth, travel beyond its limits, and can see a different view of our planet from outer space. I am very happy to be the first Japanese astronaut to participate in constructing the International Space Station. While I was doing my duties onboard the Station, I really felt that the era of the Kibo Japanese Experimental Module, soon to be launched in which the Japanese astronauts will play an active role, is about to come. My principal duty on this mission, as it was on my previous mission, was the operation of the robotic arm. I feel a sense of accomplishment that I have completed my tasks in helping construct the Space Station. The construction of the Space Station will continue. Once it is complete, all the people on earth can benefit from various scientific activities performed there. The construction of the Space Station represents a new century of "Chikyu-jin" in which the people on earth can live as one citizen. When I come back, I would like to share with all of you what I have experienced on this flight as well as my strong feelings for our beautiful Earth. Thank you again for all of your support.
Koichi Wakata, Astronaut, National Space Development Agency of Japan
from the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-92)
|
|
