Japanese astronaut chats to PM from space

Tokyo (ANTARA News) - Astronaut Takao Doi spoke to the Japanese prime minister from the International Space Station Thursday to report the success of his mission.

The Japanese astronaut told Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda he had successfully completed his mission to attach a Japanese laboratory capsule, Kibo, to the space station.

"Prime Minister Fukuda, hello from Kibo," Doi was quoted by AFP as saying.

"I am happy to report that we have been able to attach to the International Space Spation the Kibo module, which is filled with dreams of the Japanese people."

Doi showed Fukuda the inside of the tiny module, floating roughly 400 kilometers (250 miles) above the earth.

Fukuda congratulated Doi on the job and quipped that the distance was surprisingly small, less than the 550-kilometer journey between Tokyo and Osaka in western Japan.

"I thought space was further away than that. Well, perhaps in the future, the Shinkansen will link the earth and the Space Station," Fukuda said, referring to Japan's high-speed railway.

Doi also spoke to students from his home town in the prime minister's office.

"What is important is to find what you love and pursue it," he said, when asked what to do to make one's dream come true. (*) end