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.

[octoberasian Posted May 20th 2009 10:28AM]

At least better spent than that several thousand dollar toilet seat or wrench NASA likes to purchase.

Other than that, school students in the US should do the same, something like this instead of sending samples to space or a lab rat. Something for fun, out of the ordinary.

[Wwhat Posted May 20th 2009 11:23AM]

Well you can't use a normal wrench in space, you'd rotate yourself, plus with inch-thick gloves you could not hold it (inch is slightly exaggerated), and you might tear your suit and that's no fun.

[SiXiam Posted May 20th 2009 11:37AM]

That's why you anchor yourself...

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 5:57PM]

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.

[SewerShark Posted May 20th 2009 6:57PM]

@Jon Doe: hey, lighten up, it's a joke, don't take everything too seriously

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 5:55PM]

I keep saying. NASA needs to send up a module dedicated to filming space porn. They would pay off the module in a month. A trip to mars would take about 3 years to pay off. Warp drive tech would follow in 10 years. Nothing can be stopped if you have the porn industry backing you. :-D

[Chinito77 Posted May 20th 2009 6:30PM]

Why doesn't the clothes stay folded? It looks like there is some sort of wind or force that doesnt keep anything still.

[(Unverified) Posted May 20th 2009 7:45PM]

its because they want to unfold naturally (something to do with tension). try folding a piece of paper with out creasing it and then let go, it will just open up. on earth gravity stops clothes from drifting apart by pushing the top into the bottom, it doesn't work with paper because paper does not have enough mass

[amddude Posted May 20th 2009 10:09PM]

I dont know if it's just me or is the japanese language really relaxing?