Foreign Affairs

Astronaut Admits His Claim That He Grew 3.5 Inches In Space Was Made Up

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A Japanese astronaut claimed that he grew 3.5 inches over just a few days in outer space, but apologized Tuesday and said that his statement was fabricated.

Norishige Kanai retracted his statement, saying his story that he miraculously grew 3.5 inches since arriving at the International Space Station Dec. 19 was false, reported the Washington Post. After his Russian colleague called his claim unlikely, Kanai remeasured himself, and found that he grew only 2 centimeters.

The astronaut tweeted that the claim is “fake news,” despite previously saying he grew like a plant after returning to Earth, reported the Japanese Times.

計測ミス（？）なのに、大変な話題になってしまったみたいで、とんだフェイクニュースを大変失礼しました。

腰や背中は痛くないし、むしろ肩こりがなくなったくらいなので、やっぱり9cmは伸びてないと思います。さすがベテランのシュカプレロフ飛行士。
帰りのソユーズにも乗れそうで、少し安心です。

— 金井 宣茂 (@Astro_Kanai) January 9, 2018

“Good morning, everyone. Today I share some serious news,” Kanai originally tweeted. “Since coming to space, I have grown 9 centimeters. This is the most I’ve grown in three weeks since junior high school.”

みなさま、おはようございます。今日は重大なご報告があります。

実は、宇宙に着いてからの身体計測があったのですが、な、な、なんと、身長が9センチも伸びていたんです！
たった3週間でニョキニョキと。こんなの中高生のとき以来です。

帰りのソユーズの座席に体が収まるか、ちょっと心配です。

— 金井 宣茂 (@Astro_Kanai) January 8, 2018

While growing 3.5 inches in outer space is highly unlikely, it is possible, Libby Jackson of the U.K. Space Agency told BBC News. While astronauts can grow in space, they revert back to their normal height once they return to Earth.

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