One of the closing day's highlights was a session featuring Kimiya Yui, an astronaut from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), who shared his firsthand experiences aboard the International Space Station with young Thai audiences. Moderated by astronomy communicator Korntong Viriyaswetkul, the session connected the experience of spaceflight with the audience's curiosity and aspirations.
Yui took the audience through his Crew-11 mission, from launch and life and work aboard the International Space Station to his return to Earth. The mission marked his second journey into space, following his first stay aboard the station in 2015. He returned to the orbiting laboratory aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft in August 2025 and came back to Earth in January 2026.
As a Mission Specialist on Crew-11, Yui flew alongside crewmates from the United States and Russia. Their journey began on 1 August 2025, when a Falcon 9 rocket launched their Dragon spacecraft to join the crew aboard the International Space Station. The mission concluded with a splashdown off the coast of California on 15 January 2026. Hearing the story from someone who had made the journey helped the audience follow each stage of the mission, from the rocket carrying its crew away from Earth to the spacecraft bringing them home.
During his stay, Yui served as a member of Expeditions 73 and 74, contributing to scientific experiments and technology demonstrations in Japan's Kibo module, improvements to the station's communications infrastructure, and public outreach activities. These experiences offered an insight into an astronaut's responsibilities across research, technical operations, and international teamwork, all of which help keep the orbiting laboratory operating continuously.
Alongside his account of the mission and his responsibilities, Yui presented videos showcasing the beauty of the journey into space. The footage, accompanied by explanations from an astronaut who had experienced it firsthand, helped young audiences connect classroom learning with real-world experience. It also illustrated how each journey depends on advances in engineering, extensive preparation, and the combined efforts of many people.
Following his presentation, young participants had the opportunity to ask questions and speak directly with Yui, turning their curiosity about space into a conversation with someone who had lived and worked aboard the International Space Station. Korntong guided the discussion and helped make the exchange accessible and engaging for the audience.
The question-and-answer session gave young people an active role in the conversation about space exploration. Meeting and exchanging ideas with an astronaut in person helped inspire an interest in science and technology while broadening their understanding of possible career paths and opportunities to participate in future space activities.
Thailand Space Expo 2026 concluded successfully as a meeting place for people and opportunities, supporting business development and connections among agencies, businesses, and researchers while bringing space technology closer to the public and younger generations. The encounter with Kimiya Yui reflected the event's ambition to turn international cooperation into opportunities for learning and inspiration for Thailand's next generation.
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