NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Japan's Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Masato Moriyama signed an agreement to promote sustainable human exploration of the Moon.
Japan will design, develop and operate pressurized rovers for manned and unmanned lunar exploration. NASA will provide launch and delivery services for the lunar rover and provide Japanese astronauts with two opportunities to go to the lunar surface.
In addition, President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida also announced that "if important benchmarks are met, Japanese nationals will become the first non-U.S. astronauts to land on the moon on a future Artemis mission." ”
The purpose of pressurized lunar rovers is to allow astronauts to go further and work longer on the lunar surface.
Japan will design, develop and operate pressurized rovers for manned and unmanned lunar exploration. NASA will provide launch and delivery services for the lunar rover and provide Japanese astronauts with two opportunities to go to the lunar surface.
In addition, President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida also announced that "if important benchmarks are met, Japanese nationals will become the first non-U.S. astronauts to land on the moon on a future Artemis mission." ”
"The search for the stars is led by nations that are open, peaceful, and jointly exploring the universe. This is the case for the United States and Japan under President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida. Nelson said. "The United States will no longer walk alone on the moon. With this new rover, we will make groundbreaking discoveries on the surface of the moon that will benefit humanity and inspire the Artemis generation. ”
The enclosed pressurized rover will serve as a mobile habitat and laboratory for astronauts to live and work for a long time, allowing astronauts to go further and conduct scientific research in different geographical areas. It will be able to accommodate two astronauts for up to 30 days to travel through the region near the moon's south pole. NASA currently plans to use pressurized rovers for Artemis VII and subsequent missions, with a lifespan of about 10 years.
"We are honored to sign the historic implementation arrangement that will be remembered for a long time as a symbol of a new era in the Japan-U.S. lunar exploration partnership," Moriyama said. "With a stronger partnership than ever before, we will work with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to promote this initiative, including the development of pressurized rovers that can greatly expand the capabilities of lunar surface exploration to achieve the common goal of Japanese and U.S. astronauts exploring the moon together." ”
This arrangement is part of the Framework Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation in Space Exploration and the Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, which was signed in 2017. January 2023, and recognizing the common interests of nations in the quest for peace.
The framework agreement promotes a wide range of joint activities among States, including space science, earth science, space operations and exploration, aeronautical science and technology, space technology, space transportation, security and mission assurance, among others. In addition to the agreement on lunar surface exploration, the partners will sign agreements on the future participation of Japan in NASA's Dragonfly mission and the Nancy Grace Rome space telescope, on the basis of the framework agreement. The United States and Japan also intend to collaborate on the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's next-generation solar observation satellite, SOLAR-C, which will study the mysteries of the sun's atmosphere by observing the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
"As Japan and the U.S. join hands with international and industry partners to explore the lunar surface and beyond, pressurized rovers will make a strong contribution to the entire Artemis architecture," Yamakawa said. "JAXA is ready to assist the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and use our scientific and technical expertise to advance this process to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. ”
Under the Gateway Implementation Arrangement signed in 2022, NASA will also offer Japanese astronauts the opportunity to serve as crew members on future Artemis missions, with Japan providing Gateway's environmental control and life support systems as well as cargo transportation.
Through Artemis, NASA will send the first woman, the first person of color, and their first international partner astronaut to the moon, make new scientific discoveries, and explore more of the lunar surface than ever before for the benefit of all.