Japanese Science Minister Masahito Moriyama will travel to the US this week to sign an agreement with NASA to jointly explore the moon.
US astronauts are scheduled to travel to the moon in 2026 for the first time in half a century as part of the Artemis program. The goal of the Artemis project is not only to return people to the Moon and explore Earth's satellites, but also to explore Mars.
Japan will send two astronauts to the moon
The collaboration between JAXA and NASA was decided in July 2020 and the Japanese space agency was looking for astronauts to participate in the program in 2021 for the first time in 13 years. Space agencies ESA and CSA are also involved in the project.
As part of the deal, two Japanese astronauts are scheduled to travel to the moon. Japan also plans to deliver a lunar vehicle called a lunar rover to travel on the moon's surface, which astronauts can use to sleep without spacesuits. This vehicle is manufactured by Toyota.
Japan will deliver supplies to the Gateway space station
In addition, Japan plans to supply supplies to the planned Gateway space station in lunar orbit under the Artemis program, as well as supply components for life support, thermal control tubes and environmental controls.
The meeting comes as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida makes his first official visit to the US by a prime minister in nine years.
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