NHK understands that final arrangements are being made for at least two Japanese astronauts to join the mission to explore the lunar surface.
If the agreement is realized, this will be the first landing on the moon by Japanese astronauts.
The United States (US), together with Japan and several other countries, is running the Artemis lunar program which aims to land astronauts on the moon again as soon as 2025, for continuous exploration.
It said an agreement for Japanese astronauts to join the mission would likely be reached early next month between Japan and the US space agency, NASA.
Japan will also provide technological support with a manned lunar rover being jointly developed by Japan’s space agency JAXA, automaker Toyota and others.
The Artemis program will mark the first landing of astronauts on the lunar surface in about 50 years since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
2023-12-25 00:11:15
#Japanese #Astronaut #Plans #Land #Moon #NHK #WORLDJAPAN #News
