Japan and the United States are finalizing plans to send the first Japanese astronaut to the Moon as part of the Artemis lunar exploration project.
Simulation image of the Blue Moon lander by Blue Origin, tasked with sending astronauts to the lunar surface under the Artemis program. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN)
The governments of both countries are expected to sign the agreement this January 2024, which will include details on cooperation related to activities on the lunar surface.
The United States, Japan, and other nations are implementing the Artemis project with the aim of conducting the first lunar landing since 1972. The first landing in the project is anticipated to take place at the end of 2025, followed by annual landings starting in 2028.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Toyota Motor Corporation are developing a lunar rover for crew activities. Sources indicate that the U.S. is willing to provide an opportunity for at least one Japanese astronaut to land on the Moon due to Japan’s significant contributions to the Artemis mission.
Previously, Japan secured an agreement for one of its astronauts to become part of the crew on the Gateway space station. This space station will orbit the Moon as part of the Artemis project and support missions exploring the lunar surface.
In February of this year, JAXA selected two candidates for the crew: Makoto Suwa and Ayu Yoneda. Japan aims to become the second country, after the United States, to send astronauts to the Moon in the latter half of this decade.
