大西さん、ＩＳＳ船長就任　日本人宇宙飛行士３人目

　国際宇宙ステーション（ＩＳＳ）に長期滞在中の大西卓哉さん（４９）が１９日、ＩＳＳの船長に就任した。日本人飛行士の船長就任は、２０１４年の若田光一さん（６１）、２１年の星出彰彦さん（５６）に続き３人目。長期滞在クルーのリーダーとして、ＩＳＳの運用や緊急時の安全確保などの責務を負う。
　ＩＳＳでは１９日未明（日本時間）、船長の引き継ぎ式が開かれ、大西さんは前任のロシア人飛行士から指揮権を象徴する「鍵」を受け取った。
　大西さんはロシア語、英語に続けて日本語でスピーチ。「このような大役を頂けたのも、日本の有人宇宙開発に対する貢献が国際社会に認められ、未来に対して期待されている証しだと思う。期待に応えられるよう頑張りたい」と意気込みを口にした。（2025/04/19-10:55）

Takuya Onishi, 49, became the third Japanese astronaut to command the International Space Station on Saturday Japan time.
   Onishi, who is on a long-term stay at the ISS, assumed responsibility for operating the space station and ensuring safety in emergencies. His two predecessors are Koichi Wakata, 61, who took the ISS command in 2014, and Akihiko Hoshide, 56, in 2021.
   In the ISS, a change of command ceremony was held in the small hours of Saturday Japan time. Onishi received a "key" symbolizing command authority from his predecessor, a Russian astronaut.
   Onishi gave a speech in Japanese following remarks in Russian and English.
   "I think the fact that such a big role has been given me is proof that Japan's contribution to manned space development has been recognized by the international community and that there are expectations for its future," he said. "I'll do my best so I can meet the expectations."