As the alliance deepens cooperation in space projects, Japan and the United States announced Monday that they would like to send the first Japanese astronaut to the Moon.
Japan previously stated that it would like to land on the Moon by the end this decade. However, no non-Americans have ever made contact with the lunar surface.
After meeting in Tokyo with Japan’s Prime Minster Fumio Koshida, President Joe Biden said that the two countries will cooperate in the U.S.-led Artemis program, which sends humans to the Moon and Mars.
Biden stated that he was excited about the partnership, including the Gateway facility which will orbit the Moon and support future missions.
He said, “I’m excited about the work we will do together at the Gateway Station around Moon, and I look forward to the Japanese astronaut joining us on our mission to the lunar surface in the Artemis program,” during a joint press conference.
Japan’s space program is primarily focused on probes and satellites. Japanese astronauts therefore turned to Russia and the U.S. to reach the International Space Station.
Space agency JAXA was looking to revive its ranks and launched last year its first recruitment of astronauts in thirteen years.
It removed the requirement that applicants hold a science degree, and encouraged women to apply. All seven current astronauts in the country are men.
