Tokyo - Japanese astronaut Norishige
Kanai, on a mission to the International Space Station, has apologised for saying he had grown 9 cm (3.5
inches) while in space and expressing concern about whether he'd
be safe on his return to Earth.
Most astronauts "grow" during protracted space missions
because their spines extend in the absence of gravity, but the
gains are usually limited to a couple of centimeters (inches)
maximum and disappear once they are back on the ground.
The 41-year-old Kanai, who went to space last month for a
nearly six-month mission, posted on Twitter on Monday that he
had "a big announcement."
"My height's been measured here in space and somehow,
somehow, I've grown 9 cm! In only three weeks I've really shot
up, something I haven't seen since high school," he tweeted.
"This makes me a little worried that I might not be able to
fit in the Soyuz seats for our return."
But a bit over a day later - and in the wake of a flurry of
news stories - he apologised, saying that he'd measured himself
after his captain raised questions about the apparent growth and
he had stretched only 2 cm from his Earth-bound height.
"This mis-measurement appears to have become a big deal, so
I must apologise for this terrible fake news," he tweeted,
without explaining how the original miscalculation had occurred.
"It appears I can fit on the Soyuz, so I'm relieved."