在太空长高9厘米? 日本宇航员为此致歉!

Japanese astronaut has apologised for causing "fake news" when he tweeted he had grown 9cm (3.5ins) after going to the International Space Station.

日前，日本宇航员为其在前往国际空间站后，在推特上宣称自己长了9厘米（3.5英寸）一事致歉。

Norishige Kanai has since corrected his initial claim, saying he has actually grown 2cm.

日本宇航员金井宣茂近日修正了其最初的声明，称自己实际上长高了2cm。

It is common for astronauts to grow between 2cm and 5cm while in space as the vertebrae in their spine stretch out due to the lack of downward pressure from gravity.

在太空中，由于缺乏重力的向下压力，脊椎动物的脊椎骨会适当的伸展，因此长高2cm～5cm之间是比较常见的现象。

The astronaut did not explain how the initial error was made but added he was glad he would be able to return to earth in the Soyuz spacecraft, which has a seating height limit.

这位宇航员并没有解释最初的错误是如何产生的，但他补充说，他很高兴自己能够搭乘“联盟号”飞船返回地球，因为该飞船有座位高度限制。

Dr Kanai made headlines around the world when he tweeted that he was concerned he would not be allowed to board the Russian-built craft home after his 9cm growth spurt.

金井宣茂在推特上发文称，他担心自己在长高9厘米后不能进入俄罗斯建造的飞船，成了被全球媒体关注的头条新闻。

While the growth phenomenon is experienced by most people who go to space, they do not remain taller when they go back to Earth, where gravity forces vertebrae to close together.

尽管大多数前往太空的人都经历过这种增长现象，但当他们回到地球时，他们并不会继续维持这个高度，因为地球引力会迫使脊椎靠近。

Dr Kanai, who is on his first space mission, was previously a diving medical officer with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force.

此次是金井宣茂第一次执行太空任务，之前他是日本海上自卫队的潜水医务人员。