Japanese space research team tampered with experimental data, space agency says
- Research team headed by astronaut Satoshi Furukawa tampered with data from an experiment simulating life on ISS, space agency said
- They ‘fabricated’ and ‘altered large amounts of data’ concerning the psychological well-being of participants in the experiment, JAXA said
Japan’s space agency said on Friday that a research team headed by astronaut Satoshi Furukawa tampered with data from an experiment simulating life on the International Space Station, indicating that it would subject him to disciplinary action.
Although there are no changes to Furukawa’s scheduled voyage to the ISS around next year, the 58-year-old astronaut will be “appropriately” punished as he bore partial responsibility due to his supervisory role in the experiment, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said at a press conference.
JAXA said the team “fabricated” and “altered large amounts of data” concerning the psychological well-being of participants in the experiment.
The experiment involved 40 people confined to a closed environment for about two weeks at a facility in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, between 2016 and 2017 to assess their stress levels and mental well-being.
00:42
Rocket blown up mid-flight during Japan’s first launch failure in nearly 20 years
Two researchers who conducted interviews to ascertain the mental state of the participants fabricated data including making it seem as if other researchers had also taken part.
