"Two Japanese Participants in NASA Project... Moon Landing After 2028"

Two Japanese astronauts are expected to set foot on the lunar surface after 2028 through NASA's manned lunar exploration project, 'Artemis.'

The Japanese probe "SLIM" landing on the lunar surface last January. / Photo by Yonhap News Agency·JAXA

Yomiuri Shimbun reported on the 17th that the United States and Japan plan to accelerate cooperation in the space sector at the bilateral summit to be held in Washington DC on the 10th of next month (local time). Following this, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Japan's Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Masahito Moriyama are coordinating to sign a document containing related details.

NASA plans to successfully conduct a manned spacecraft flight in lunar orbit next year and land astronauts on the moon by 2026. Furthermore, they intend to regularly send astronauts to the moon after 2028, including two Japanese astronauts.

Additionally, the U.S. and Japanese governments plan to agree on operating the lunar rover 'Lunar Cruiser,' developed mainly by Toyota Motor Corporation, for ten years. Japan is responsible for logistics support and lunar rover development in the Artemis program. In January, Japan became the fifth country in the world to successfully land on the moon with the probe 'SLIM.'

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