Red Life Dancing in Space

In 1994, a vivid "red" shimmered inside the Space Shuttle "Columbia" flying in the jet - black outer space. 400 kilometers above the Earth.In that place carrying humanity's dreams and the cutting edge of science, "Wakin" (Japanese goldfish), the most familiar fish to Japanese people, were swimming in mysterious water released from gravity.

Adaptability Shown by Goldfish That Lost Gravity

Thrown into the unknown world of space, the goldfish initially continued to spin around in confusion, not knowing which way was up.However, surprisingly, they began to adapt to the environment immediately.Even without gravity, they recognized the direction of light as "up" and began to swim leisurely with corrected posture.

That figure told the strength of life trying to find a "way" within itself and live no matter how harsh the environment.The dark universe spreading outside the window and the red of life shining in a small vessel inside the ship.Modern scientists rediscovered the robustness and possibilities of life nurtured by the Earth in the closed space of a spaceship.

Beyond the Times, Gaze Forward

There is no change in the red beauty of goldfish loved in the street corners of Edo or goldfish that contributed to scientific progress in the space station.Just as people in the past entrusted their hopes for tomorrow to the figure of goldfish, the figure of goldfish dancing in space also makes us feel the possibilities of a new era.

No matter how far we go, when we look at that small red life swimming in the water, a mysterious peace dwells in our hearts.Goldfish are important partners who always teach us the preciousness of life beside us humans, whether on the ground or in space.

"Letters from Chiaki Mukai Space Shuttle": Experimental records of goldfish that went to space with Chiaki Mukai, the first Japanese female astronaut, and observation records of life seen from space.

JAXA(Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Archive: Public materials regarding behavioral observation experiments of goldfish in space and their results, and adaptation of organisms under microgravity.

Katsumi Suzuki "Goldfish and Japanese"(Kodansha Academic Paperback, 2019): Consideration of the impact of space advancement on appreciation culture and science as the destination of goldfish history.