Video: Japanese astronaut surfs through space on 'flying carpet'

The Japanese can turn pretty much anything into a variety show. So it's no real surprise to hear that the Japanese public have issued a set of 16 zero-gravity challenges to be carried out by Jaxa astronaut, Koichi Wakata, during his time at the International Space Station. Tasks included folding laundry, applying eye-drops, and attempting to ride a "flying carpet;" the latter accomplished with some adhesive tape and a full-size bathroom mat. Seriously, shaka brah. Check the surf and full length videos after the break.

[Josh G. @ May 20th 2009 5:37AM]

HAAHAHA magic.

[Saad (the other one) @ May 20th 2009 3:10PM]

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?

[Jon Doe. @ May 20th 2009 5:47PM]

Why isn't there a gay checkmark next to the + & - ? I vote Saad as the gayest post on the thread. ;)

[Wwhat @ May 21st 2009 11:36AM]

And your point? Got a problem with gays?

[papafew @ May 23rd 2009 8:06AM]

at least there is a (-) for you stupid john doe

[darkmax @ May 20th 2009 5:42AM]

when are they bringing a broom?

[ultimatepwnage @ May 20th 2009 5:49AM]

i really enjoy watching water in zero gravity.

[Sqij @ May 20th 2009 9:32PM]

I really like watching boobs in zero gravity

[RUGRLN @ May 20th 2009 6:00AM]

Damn this so amazing...I would kill to experience ZeroG, preferably in space not in the ZeroG plane Hawking went in!

[aj121489 @ May 20th 2009 10:42AM]

My physics teacher did a bunch of those Zero G flights as a part of their research group and she loved it. I personally would love to do either although being in space for any period of time requires a shitload of exercise because the lack of gravity means your muscles aren't working nearly as hard for everyday tasks, so when you get back to earth (if you didn't work out) you would be physically deteriorated. Of course being in space would still be way cooler, but if someone offered to pay my ticket for the Zero G planes I wouldn't think twice.

[Timerider @ May 20th 2009 12:33PM]

Definitely. I want to go into space so bad.

Things to bring up next time:
An RC plane.
A leaf blower.

[Temple @ May 20th 2009 12:46PM]

You know in a couple hundred years, when space flight becomes common place and mundane. People are going to look back at this and see how easily amused 21st century humans were.

[Max L @ May 20th 2009 6:10AM]

I, for one, Welcome our new asain carpet fling overlords.

[pika2000 @ May 20th 2009 6:14AM]

LOL. Cool. Wish we see anything space related more often.

[LondonConsultant @ May 20th 2009 6:16AM]

Fake. You can tell it was done in a studio using Photoshop.

[wako @ May 20th 2009 8:23AM]

totally, i mean look at the video! all those things he did are just totally impossible. id be surprised if he himself is real

[Mike @ May 20th 2009 6:19AM]

these task idea's are very mediocre and uncreative for japanese people. they need to bring a sumo up in space

[Sqij @ May 20th 2009 9:37PM]

Space Ninja Fighting!

[r3loaded @ May 20th 2009 6:32AM]

This is why Japanese TV is so awesome :)

[A.C.E.R. @ May 20th 2009 6:36AM]

What, no toilet gags?

[seanchk @ May 20th 2009 7:03AM]

Yeah I want to see him light a fart in space !

[lejupp @ May 20th 2009 7:40AM]

@seanchk: I wonder if the resulting thrust would result into his head puncturing the ISS hull...

[chubbs @ May 20th 2009 6:49AM]

I am very glad that they are using the time in space to do such important research.

[dajimmers @ May 20th 2009 7:19AM]

First, he's up there for a long time- all work and no play and all those consequences. Second, part of the goal of space programs is to garner public support for what they do- they are publicly funded after all, and this is basically free advertising from the news agencies. Finally, this is oodles of awesomeness for kids throughout the world, and keeping them interested in math & science is well worth a little bit of space silliness.

[Boards of Canada @ May 20th 2009 6:51AM]

I savored each second of that video.

We are truly gravity creatures... its fun to see how its hard to do anything without it!!

[Wwhat @ May 20th 2009 7:01AM]

Why doesn't he have a headset microphone setup, don't they always have that standard attached to them in space, wut.

[Darwin @ May 20th 2009 7:24AM]

i was thinking he was going to do some karaoke

[Wwhat @ May 20th 2009 7:29AM]

Lolz yeah why didn't he? Or is that on the next episode?

[Wwhat @ May 20th 2009 7:17AM]

He sorta trips over that brown bag, proving you can trip in weightlessness. cool :)
What I always wondered about is how pets would do in weightlessness, would a cat start to nap? Would a dog manage to get to your shoes and chew them? I read that some animals freak out and can't adapt at all because they can't figure out how to move, but I'm sure some animals would, perhaps squirrels should also be tried, those are very adaptive.
Although it might be cruel if they cannot deal :[

[dajimmers @ May 20th 2009 7:20AM]

I really want to see a fish in one of those big self-contained water "bubbles." And what happens when it swims to the edge.

[Wwhat @ May 20th 2009 7:30AM]

Freaky

[Blacky @ May 20th 2009 7:48AM]

Hahaha, the fish thing is soo good. We need to try that.

[Greg @ May 20th 2009 11:28AM]

@Wwhat: Here's video of some "weightless" pets:

Floating dogs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLaBZlWYStI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKFGJFhQ9H8

This cat seems pretty chill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAWuMd6GOfs

[Deuche ex Machina @ May 20th 2009 3:14PM]

@ Greg:

That cat's in slow-mo. Cats, in general, flip the f**k out in zero/microgravity because, when falling in normal gravity, they orient to land on their feet. Zero G takes away their reference, and you get a spastic, claw and hair cyclone. There's video of one that winds up his leash around himself like a winch from spinning. Pretty nutso.

[codyrt9120 @ May 20th 2009 8:54PM]

Yeah, the next related video on that link shows a cat freaking out, but then again I'd freak out too if I was getting thrown into the walls.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvU9GZjBTzs&feature=related

[Wwhat @ May 21st 2009 11:38AM]

nteresting, but those are short freefalls in planes though, even people mostly puke then whereas if you have to to get used it's all OK it seems (also where's the squirrel? :)
Cats do have that capability to turn front and rear independently around their spine though so it should be possible for them to learn to find a way to deal bit after calming down maybe.

Oh and that last one I don't think he was really freaking out too much, he was trying to balance himself and was obviously having trouble with that being in an uncontrolled spin but when you see it touch the floor in the end it wasn't too freaked it seems, although it's hard to tell of course.

Problem is that humans are usually in small spaces so they can touch a surface to move, and when not can use small 'rockets', but those animals are pretty much without any way to propel themselves or orient themselves, so a cat can do the nap thing I guess since sleeping requires no movement.
What we need is space roombas so cats can ride those :)

P.S. why don't replies work when you do them on the page the mail links to? You have to first goto the main comment page to get a reply out.

[gigatexel @ May 20th 2009 7:18AM]

I'm glad to see Japan's tax money is being put to good use.

[AbbasJin @ May 20th 2009 7:55AM]

atleast they are not spending it on clearing the world from 'weapons of mass destruction'. so cheers for japan.

[NeoJew @ May 20th 2009 7:56AM]

When you're that far from a pharmacy, eye drops can't be cheap.

[Ht0wn B0i @ May 20th 2009 8:26AM]

The next Matrix Movie will be made in space with zero gravity..that would be awsome! how have s** in space? omg! im dyin' to try that one! haha

[Osiris @ May 20th 2009 9:08AM]

Japan needs a much bigger space program so we can get more zero-G Japanese TV .

Up next: Human Tetris .... In space
Followed by: Troop of 100.....in space
Later: Peaceful Domokun Floating Hour

[Aaron @ May 20th 2009 9:43AM]

"Watch out..............................................Aladdin."

[Mike Litoris @ May 20th 2009 9:45AM]

Tax dollars hard at work.

[Jon Doe. @ May 20th 2009 5:59PM]

So you are telling me that people in the space station are expected to work 24/7? Do you?

Give them a break. They have 13,000 cubic feet to live in for months on end. If playing Aladdin is the worst that happens more power to em. we are lucky they don't go outside and try and play space baseball.

[Timoh @ May 20th 2009 9:46AM]

To all the people bitching about "wasting time" or "wasting money" maybe you should go back to bed. I'm sure this short amount of time he spent sparking public interest, which in turn sparks public support for more funding for space programs wasnt the only thing this guy was doing up there. How could you really be angry at this, what the hell is wrong with you.

[doug @ May 20th 2009 10:17AM]

jealousy...thats all theyre mad about. pfft im jealous too! look at all those watches hes wearing.

[aj121489 @ May 20th 2009 10:34AM]

Thank you I was hoping someone would say it before I had to. These people seem to forget that astronauts are LIVING IN SPACE, not just going there every day for their 9-5. If they showed a vid of these guys sleeping they'd probably bitch about that too, I can see it now: "Millions of dollars for these guys to sleep. Tax money at work." God forbid they do something fun in what little free time they probably have.

[Kinger @ May 20th 2009 9:47AM]

I'm surprised they haven't had any Japanese game shows in space yet. Human Tetris anyone?

[Timoh @ May 20th 2009 9:53AM]

Also that first one clearly wasnt a towel it was a sack. The second one was one of the internal door flaps.

[SewerShark @ May 20th 2009 10:02AM]

Japan spends millions for a single Japanese guy play "magic carpet".
Classic