SCANDALS THAT SHOOK SPACE EXPLORATION

Stealing, sabotage and safety concerns - from the silly to the serious, here are some of the wrongdoings that rocked the world of space

- Nikole Robinson

FABRICATED RESEARCH

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa first flew into space as part of Expedition 28/29 in 2011, where he spent five months living in microgravity aboard the International Space Station (ISS). But his second visit to space was jeopardised due to controversy surrounding a research study overseen by the surgeon-turned-astronaut. Between 2016 and 2017, Furukawa was the supervisor of an experiment that simulated life on the ISS. Study subjects were confined in a closed environment for two weeks while researchers monitored their mental wellbeing and stress levels – an Earth analogue for conditions on the station. Two of the researchers involved in interviewing the participants edited and fabricated data that compromised the experiment and its results, revealed in 2019 after the study was investigated by an independent evaluator. “The creation of non-existent data undermines the credibility of the research content, and it was judged that it was an act that could be regarded as 'fabrication' from the perspective of researchers in general and society,” JAXA officials wrote.

Though Furukawa didn’t fabricate any results himself, his supervisory role and failure to disclose any wrongdoing makes him liable in the eyes of the Japanese space agency. Despite the scandal coming to light, Furukawa will not lose his place aboard the planned SpaceX Crew-7 mission, currently due to launch on 17 August 2023. Though still able to make his second trip into space, JAXA has stated that those involved will be appropriately punished.

SECRETLY MARRIED