 Image search results - "astronaut" |
A large banner adorns JR Matsudo Station (Joban Line) to celebrate Matsudo native and astronaut Yamazaki Naoko's return to Earth from her Space Shuttle mission in April 2010.
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Naoko Yamazaki went on her first space flight aboard Space Shuttle Discovery on April 5, 2010 and spent almost 2 weeks on the International Space Station. She returned on April 20, 2010 to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Posters celebrating Naoko's return were all over central Matsudo.
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The Matsudo Tourist Association has a show window in Matsudo Station showing local products and a poster of Naoko.
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On May 22, 2010, the city of Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture held a welcome home ceremony and parade for astronaut Naoko Yamazaki who came to visit during a brief visit to Japan.
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Little flags and banners festooned the 500-meter parade route. 道路上街灯にフラッグ
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The parade route started on this narrow road near Matsudo Station, coming from Isetan Dept. Store.
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The parade route was fenced off.
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They provided free paper flags for spectators.
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Staff passing out free paper flags.
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The paper flag had Naoko Yamazaki's official logo for the STS-131 mission. (See high-quality image below.)
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Isetan Dept. Store in Matsudo had a large vertical banner welcoming Naoko's return.
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The small plaza in front of Isetan served as the venue for Naoko Yamazaki's welcome home ceremony. They had a small, elevated stage. The place was divided into squares for people to stand in.
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Sign for Naoko Yamazaki's welcome home ceremony and parade. They also passed out little flyers written with the day's schedule.
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By 1:30 pm, the place was getting quite full of people. I was standing not too close to the stage. The ceremony was to start at 2:15 pm. First the marching band played.
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When Naoko Yamazaki arrived by car, people started to wave the paper flags as she made her way to the stage. People behind the people in front couldn't see much because of the flags.
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First, Matsudo Mayor Toshihisa Kawai said a few words to welcome Naoko back to Earth and to her hometown of Matsudo. 伊勢丹前広場にてオープニングセレモニー
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Matsudo Mayor Toshihisa Kawai at Naoko Yamazaki's welcome home ceremony in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture. The man on the right is the Matsudo Board of Education Superintendent. Hidden by the mayor is Speaker of the Matsudo City Assembly.
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People wave flags again as Naoko Yamazaki is introduced to speak during her homecoming ceremony in Matsudo, Chiba.
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The plaza in front of Isetan was quite full. We were warned that we wouldn't be able to see the welcome parade afterward because they would block off the street from us. However, it was still possible for us to see the parade.
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Naoko Yamazaki speaks, thanking everyone for their support and encouragement. 山崎直子宇宙飛行士 帰還報告会
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She spoke for only a few minutes.
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Representatives from the Young Astronaut Club gave her a flag and bouquet of flowers. フラッグ、花束贈呈
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Naoko Yamazaki at her homecoming ceremony in Matsudo, Chiba. She was inspired to become an astronaut when she saw a school teacher fly on the space shuttle when she was growing up in the 1980s.
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The same banner found in Matsudo Station also hung above the stage.
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The ceremony was over by 2:30 pm, and she then hopped in a convertible for the parade. After the ceremony was over, I rushed out and ran to the parade route in front of Matsudo Station.
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People line the parade route. The parade started at about 2:35 pm.
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The parade route went around a few blocks and returned to Isetan. The first stretch of the route was here where they threw confetti. Thanks to my friend Gary for these confetti shots.
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Naoko Yamazaki in a black convertible. Ever since the Challenger disaster in 1986 when Ellison Onizuka from Hawaii died (I never got over it), I always viewed the Space Shuttle as a risky vehicle. Even today, so many things can and do go wrong in space.
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So I really prayed that Discovery would return safely to Earth. Because if there were another tragic accident, it would be too much of a heartbreak. Japanese-Americans lost Ellison, and if the Japanese lost Naoko, I can't even bear to think about it.
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And so I had to see and welcome her home too. Japan-America relations at its finest, on the highest level, literally. This is near Matsudo Station. Her car was escorted by the Guardian Angels and security guards.
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There she is, my first good shot of her. Many people called out to her and she acknowledged with a wave and photogenic smile.
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She's a very attractive and charming-looking lady. Cream of the cream. Yes, she's the first Japanese mom to fly into space, but she's very bright. Graduate of Univ. of Tokyo in aeronautical engineering.
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Whenever someone goes into space, there was always something that's first. She's the first Japanese mom in space. The first time more than one Japanese were in space. The first time four women were in space.
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The parade started with this group of flag twirlers.
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The flag dancers were followed by a marching band from the fire dept. 消防音楽隊
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The marching band was followed by a group of kids belonging to the Young Astronaut Club, an educational club.
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The banner reads, "Welcome home, Yamazaki Naoko" 日本宇宙少年団千葉スペースボイジャー分団員
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Behind the kids was Naoko Yamazaki's convertible from which she tirelessly waved and smiled.
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After the parade, she went to her junior high school and gave a talk to hundreds of elementary and junior high school students. She spent the night at her parents' home in Matsudo.
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Here are a few of my rapid-fire shots of her when she passed by me the second and last time. It was too crowded to chase her any more.
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It's mind-boggling to see how much training she went through during 11 years or so before she actually went into space. It must've been hard on her husband and daughter, but they stuck it out and must be very proud.
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JAXA Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki at her welcome home parade in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture on May 22, 2010.
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Naoko's car was followed by the mayor's car.
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As soon as Naoko's car passed by, a huge wave of people rolled in to chase her and see her again. I was barely able to get these last two shots of her.
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Luckily she turned my way when I took this shot.
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Along the final stretch of the too-short parade route, the huge crowd followed her. The parade ended at about 3 pm.
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My embedded YouTube video of Naoko Yamazaki's homecoming parade in Matsudo.
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