NASA will begin exploration of the moon with Japanese colleagues
The United States, represented by NASA, has signed a new agreement with Japan, which sets out plans for continued cooperation between the countries on the International Space Station, as well as for joint work on the lunar program NASA Artemis.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstein signed an agreement with Japanese Education and Science Minister Koichi Hagiuda on July 10. The joint program will be called JEDI, it will oblige both countries to work on projects that will include both robotic and human exploration of the moon. In particular, the agreement speaks of Japan's contribution to the creation of a near-moon station.
Back in October 2019, Japan became one of the first countries to express its intention to participate as an international partner in the NASA Lunar Gateway project (a program to create a manned near-moon station). Since then, a number of countries and agencies have expressed similar support, including Canada and the European Space Agency. The agreement this week concretizes this arrangement, so both parties will share responsibilities and begin work on specific projects.
Japan is also preparing to launch a space probe to the satellites of Mars and return samples from Phobos - the largest satellite of the Red Planet. The country's plans also include the launch of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission, which will be the first Japanese mission to the lunar surface in 2022.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstein signed an agreement with Japanese Education and Science Minister Koichi Hagiuda on July 10. The joint program will be called JEDI, it will oblige both countries to work on projects that will include both robotic and human exploration of the moon. In particular, the agreement speaks of Japan's contribution to the creation of a near-moon station.
Back in October 2019, Japan became one of the first countries to express its intention to participate as an international partner in the NASA Lunar Gateway project (a program to create a manned near-moon station). Since then, a number of countries and agencies have expressed similar support, including Canada and the European Space Agency. The agreement this week concretizes this arrangement, so both parties will share responsibilities and begin work on specific projects.
Japan is also preparing to launch a space probe to the satellites of Mars and return samples from Phobos - the largest satellite of the Red Planet. The country's plans also include the launch of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission, which will be the first Japanese mission to the lunar surface in 2022.
