A: Hey Takuya! Guess what? Yui just blasted off and arrived at the International Space Station!
B: No way! How long will he be there?
A: It's a months-long mission, actually his second long-term stay there. He was greeted by you!
B: Really? That's awesome! How did it feel for him?
A: He said he's super grateful and excited to work with the crew. They had a ceremony, hugged and high-fived.
B: That sounds great! Did you hear about his hometown people watching?
A: Yeah, they were there to see him off. It's his first time back since 2015.
A: Also, it's the first time in four years that two Japanese astronauts are on the station together.
B: Wow! I wonder what Yui will do up there...
A: There might be a new cargo spacecraft to dock during his stay. He might even grab it with a robotic arm!
A: The mission is a collaboration between NASA and SpaceX, and the rocket lifted off from Florida.
B: That's amazing! I hope everything goes well for him up there.
A: Me too! By the way, did you know he wants to shine like a star in space to show everyone Japan's greatness?
B: Really? He's really determined, that guy.
A: Definitely! Let's hope it's another successful mission for him and for Japan!
----------------
Japanese astronaut Yui Kimiya has begun a months-long stay on the International Space Station after a 15-hour journey from earth.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft docked on the station after blasting off from the US state of Florida on Friday, carrying Yui and three other astronauts.
Yui was greeted at the ISS by Japanese astronaut Onishi Takuya, who has been on the station since March. The two expressed joy, hugged and exchanged high fives.
In a ceremony, Yui said that he is so grateful to be at the station. He also said that he is looking forward to working with the other crew members to make the mission the best.
It is the first time in four years that two Japanese astronauts are on board the ISS at the same time. Hoshide Akihiko and Noguchi Soichi were on the station together in 2021.
Yui will take over duties from Onishi, and the two are scheduled to hold a news conference.
Yui will be at the station for about six months. It is his second long-term stay there after one in 2015.
Japan's new HTV-X cargo spacecraft may dock at the station for the first time during Yui's stay. He is expected to be given the job of snaring it with a robotic arm.
The Crew Dragon mission is a collaboration between NASA and private aerospace company SpaceX.
The rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center just before noon local time Friday. It reached orbit moments later, then the Dragon capsule separated from the Falcon 9 booster.
People in Yui's hometown of Nagano Prefecture, north of Tokyo, gathered to watch his return to space. It is his first time back since a months-long mission in 2015.
After the successful launch, Yui said: "I'm back in space for the first time in 10 years. I'll fulfill my mission and shine like the brightest star to let everyone know the wonderful aspects of Japan."
The launch had been planned for Thursday. But unfavorable weather forced NASA officials to scrub it just one minute before liftoff.
Yui's fellow astronauts include Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke from the US, and Russian Oleg Platonov.
----------------
Quiz 1:
Who greeted Japanese astronaut Yui Kimiya upon his arrival at the International Space Station (ISS)?
A. The station's commander
B. Another Japanese astronaut already on the ISS
C. An astronaut from a different space agency
D. A representative from NASA
[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2:
Which of the following statements about Yui's mission is correct?
A. He will be at the ISS for about six months, making it his third long-term stay there
B. This is his first time back in space since a months-long mission in 2015
C. The HTV-X cargo spacecraft may dock during his stay, but he won't be given the job of snaring it with a robotic arm
D. He is not a member of the crew for the Crew Dragon mission
[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 2: B
Quiz 3:
The collaboration behind the Crew Dragon mission involves which organization and company?
A. NASA and SpaceX
B. JAXA and Boeing
C. ESA and Roscosmos
D. CSA and Northrop Grumman
[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 3: A
B: No way! How long will he be there?
A: It's a months-long mission, actually his second long-term stay there. He was greeted by you!
B: Really? That's awesome! How did it feel for him?
A: He said he's super grateful and excited to work with the crew. They had a ceremony, hugged and high-fived.
B: That sounds great! Did you hear about his hometown people watching?
A: Yeah, they were there to see him off. It's his first time back since 2015.
A: Also, it's the first time in four years that two Japanese astronauts are on the station together.
B: Wow! I wonder what Yui will do up there...
A: There might be a new cargo spacecraft to dock during his stay. He might even grab it with a robotic arm!
A: The mission is a collaboration between NASA and SpaceX, and the rocket lifted off from Florida.
B: That's amazing! I hope everything goes well for him up there.
A: Me too! By the way, did you know he wants to shine like a star in space to show everyone Japan's greatness?
B: Really? He's really determined, that guy.
A: Definitely! Let's hope it's another successful mission for him and for Japan!
----------------
Japanese astronaut Yui Kimiya has begun a months-long stay on the International Space Station after a 15-hour journey from earth.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft docked on the station after blasting off from the US state of Florida on Friday, carrying Yui and three other astronauts.
Yui was greeted at the ISS by Japanese astronaut Onishi Takuya, who has been on the station since March. The two expressed joy, hugged and exchanged high fives.
In a ceremony, Yui said that he is so grateful to be at the station. He also said that he is looking forward to working with the other crew members to make the mission the best.
It is the first time in four years that two Japanese astronauts are on board the ISS at the same time. Hoshide Akihiko and Noguchi Soichi were on the station together in 2021.
Yui will take over duties from Onishi, and the two are scheduled to hold a news conference.
Yui will be at the station for about six months. It is his second long-term stay there after one in 2015.
Japan's new HTV-X cargo spacecraft may dock at the station for the first time during Yui's stay. He is expected to be given the job of snaring it with a robotic arm.
The Crew Dragon mission is a collaboration between NASA and private aerospace company SpaceX.
The rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center just before noon local time Friday. It reached orbit moments later, then the Dragon capsule separated from the Falcon 9 booster.
People in Yui's hometown of Nagano Prefecture, north of Tokyo, gathered to watch his return to space. It is his first time back since a months-long mission in 2015.
After the successful launch, Yui said: "I'm back in space for the first time in 10 years. I'll fulfill my mission and shine like the brightest star to let everyone know the wonderful aspects of Japan."
The launch had been planned for Thursday. But unfavorable weather forced NASA officials to scrub it just one minute before liftoff.
Yui's fellow astronauts include Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke from the US, and Russian Oleg Platonov.
----------------
Quiz 1:
Who greeted Japanese astronaut Yui Kimiya upon his arrival at the International Space Station (ISS)?
A. The station's commander
B. Another Japanese astronaut already on the ISS
C. An astronaut from a different space agency
D. A representative from NASA
[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 1: B
Quiz 2:
Which of the following statements about Yui's mission is correct?
A. He will be at the ISS for about six months, making it his third long-term stay there
B. This is his first time back in space since a months-long mission in 2015
C. The HTV-X cargo spacecraft may dock during his stay, but he won't be given the job of snaring it with a robotic arm
D. He is not a member of the crew for the Crew Dragon mission
[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 2: B
Quiz 3:
The collaboration behind the Crew Dragon mission involves which organization and company?
A. NASA and SpaceX
B. JAXA and Boeing
C. ESA and Roscosmos
D. CSA and Northrop Grumman
[Answer block]
Answers: Quiz 3: A
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Summary
Japanese astronaut Yui Kimiya embarked on a multi-month stay at the International Space Station. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, which took off from Florida, USA, delivered him and three other astronauts to the ISS. This is Yui's second long-term mission, and he was welcomed by fellow Japanese
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ID: 391c8734-dfe1-415e-811d-6d6b8c16c599
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250802_N01/
Date: Aug. 2, 2025
Created: 2025/08/04 07:02
Updated: 2025/12/08 03:08
Last Read: 2025/08/04 08:09