TOKYO, April 24 -- NHK World issued the following news:
Japanese astronaut Furukawa Satoshi, who returned to Earth after spending about six months orbiting the planet, has offered encouragement to children hoping to go to space in an online news conference.
Furukawa returned on March 12 from the International Space Station, where he had been since last August.
He conducted various experiments there, such as regenerating water for future probes on the Moon and Mars.
Furukawa spoke to Japanese media on Wednesday from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he has been in rehab to help him adjust to life back on Earth.
Referring to his physical condition, he said he was able to minimize loss of muscle and bone mass because he used a...