TOKYO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Japan's space agency admitted on Friday that one of its research teams "fabricated" and "altered large amounts of data" related to an experiment simulating life on the International Space Station (ISS).
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) told a press conference that the research team, headed by Satoshi Furukawa, "fabricated" as well as "altered large amounts of data" related to the mental health of the participants in the experiment simulating life on the space station.
JAXA Vice President Hiroshi Sasaki said that Furukawa was responsible in part for the fraudulent actions of the team as he was supervising it.
While the astronaut will face disciplinary measures, changes to Furukawa's planned mission to the ISS next year have not been considered, Sasaki said.
"Sloppy management of the experiment has damaged the credibility of our research data, and the scientific value of research as a whole," Sasaki said, apologizing for the team's deceptive actions.
The experiment was supposed to monitor and assess the mental health and stress levels of eight individuals who were confined in close quarters for around two weeks, replicating conditions on the space station.
