Posted on 01/09/2018 8:12:53 AM PST by BenLurkin
A Japanese astronaut who is living on the International Space Station says he has grown 9cm (3.5in) since arriving there just over three weeks ago.
Norishige Kanai wrote on social media he was worried he would not fit into the seat of the Russian Soyuz vehicle that is due to bring him home in June.
Astronauts grow an average of between two and five centimetres in space.
This is because of the absence of gravity which allows the vertebrae in their spines to spread apart.
Mr Kanai tweeted: "Good morning, everybody. I have a major announcement today. We had our bodies measured after reaching space, and wow, wow, wow, I had actually grown by as much as 9cm!
"I grew like some plant in just three weeks. Nothing like this since high school. I'm a bit worried whether I'll fit in the Soyuz seat when I go back."
The Soyuz spacecraft which takes the astronauts from and to Earth has a limit on seating height. If crew members become too tall, it could pose a problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Sounds like his wife will be happy :)
I must have missed what part grew.
5.56mm
“But not the nickel to detrain. :-)”
Well the sandwiches were a bit hard in the middle. Not sure why.
OK, I finally got it, but as a response to the OP, rather than to my specific post in #6.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.