WASHINGTON – Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi along with three fellow crew members returned to Earth on Saturday after spending around five months orbiting the planet aboard the International Space Station.
“Thank you very much to everyone who supported me during my long stay on the ISS,” Onishi, 49, posted on the social media platform X. Onishi, from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, along with two Americans and one Russian, departed the station on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule on Friday afternoon.
Onishi also left words of encouragement for fellow Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, 55, who remains aboard the station.
“It was only for a short time, but I was overjoyed to be able to work together in space with you,” Onishi said. “Please do your best during the rest of your stay.”
Onishi departed Earth in March from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Crew Dragon.
During his mission, Onishi took part in scientific experiments with a view toward future lunar exploration.
In April, Onishi became the third Japanese astronaut to serve as ISS commander. He welcomed Yui aboard when he arrived at the station on Aug. 2.