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A landmark agreement has been sealed between NASA and Japan, with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Masahito Moriyama, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology representing Japan, aiming to facilitate a new era of human exploration on the Moon.
As part of this collaboration, Japan is responsible for the design, construction, and management of a pressurized lunar rover that will be used for both crewed and robotic missions to the lunar surface. Meanwhile, NASA is committed to launching the rover and providing two slots for Japanese astronauts to land on the Moon.
Furthermore, with the backing of President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida, a mutual objective has been set for a Japanese astronaut to become the first non-American to step onto the Moon on a forthcoming Artemis mission, upon hitting essential milestones.
The pressurized lunar rover will offer astronauts the ability to extend their reach and efficiency on the Moon. The accord was formalized at NASA Headquarters in Washington on April 9, with Bill Nelson, Masahito Moriyama, and JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa presiding over the ceremony.
Nelson expressed his enthusiasm for collaborative space exploration, emphasizing that the United States and Japan, under the leadership of Presidents Biden and Kishida, will explore the lunar terrain together. He highlighted the anticipated groundbreaking discoveries and the inspiration it will bring for the Artemis Generation.
The anticipated rover will expand scientific capabilities, acting as a mobile habitat and laboratory that can house two astronauts for up to 30 days near the Moon’s South Pole. NASA’s Artemis VII and later missions are expected to use the rover across a projected 10-year operational period.
Moriyama expressed honor in signing the arrangement, which symbolizes the strengthened Japan-U.S. partnership in lunar exploration. The agreement includes development of the pressurized rover, enhancing exploratory capabilities on the Moon, and fostering joint exploration by American and Japanese astronauts.
The comprehensive space cooperation agreement signed in January 2023 upholds the mutual interests in peaceful lunar exploration and other space activities. The agreement spans various areas including space and Earth sciences, space operations, aeronautics, technology, and transportation.
Among other future joint projects, this agreement paves the way for Japan’s involvement in NASA’s Dragonfly mission and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and for collaboration on JAXA’s SOLAR-C satellite.
Yamakawa stated that the pressurized rover represents a significant addition to the Artemis mission architecture. JAXA, alongside MEXT, is geared to leverage their scientific and technical expertise to foster a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
An earlier Gateway Implementing Arrangement made in 2022 stipulates that a Japanese astronaut will join the Gateway crew on an Artemis mission, and Japan will provide life support systems and cargo transportation for the Gateway.
NASA’s Artemis missions seek to make history by landing the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, along with the first international partner astronaut, fostering scientific discoveries and expanding lunar exploration for the benefit of humanity.
To learn more about NASA’s Artemis campaigns, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/artemis
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Faith McKie / Kathryn Hambleton
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
faith.d.mckie@nasa.gov / kathryn.hambleton@nasa.gov
FAQ Section
- What is the purpose of the pressurized lunar rover?
- The pressurized lunar rover is designed as a mobile habitat and laboratory to enable extended scientific exploration on the Moon. It will allow astronauts to live, work, and travel farther across the lunar surface for up to 30 days.
- How will Japan and the United States share the responsibilities in this collaboration?
- Japan is tasked with designing, developing, and operating the pressurized lunar rover. The United States, through NASA, will handle the rover’s launch and delivery to the Moon and offer seats for Japanese astronauts to participate in lunar surface missions.
- What is at stake for a Japanese astronaut regarding future Artemis missions?
- A shared goal has been announced for a Japanese astronaut to be the first non-American to land on the Moon on an upcoming Artemis mission, provided that essential benchmarks are met.
- What are the other cooperative projects between the US and Japan in space exploration?
- Apart from the lunar surface exploration agreement, the US and Japan will collaborate on NASA’s Dragonfly mission, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and JAXA’s SOLAR-C satellite.
- When was the cooperative space agreement between Japan and the US signed?
- The cooperative space agreement, named the “Framework Agreement Between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation in Space Exploration and Use of Outer Space,” was signed in January 2023.
Conclusion Section
The signing of the agreement between NASA and Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology marks a significant advancement in space exploration, showing the growing international cooperation for the Artemis missions. This agreement not only facilitates the development of advanced technology like the pressurized lunar rover but also enhances the potential for scientific discovery and sets the stage for historic milestones, including the inclusion of international astronauts in lunar missions. As the Artemis campaign progresses, the collaboration will likely inspire a new generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers and significantly contribute to our understanding of the Moon and beyond.