Japanese astronaut selected to make history by setting foot on the Moon during NASA’s Artemis mission. This groundbreaking opportunity was offered to Japan during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s recent state visit to the US. The astronaut will become the first non-American to walk on the lunar surface.
As part of the collaboration between Japan and the US in the space sector, two Japanese astronauts will also join American missions, with one of them landing on the Moon. In exchange for this participation, Japan will supply a rover for the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustained lunar presence.
The European Space Agency is also contributing to the Artemis missions, with three seats reserved for European astronauts. Details about European astronauts landing on the Moon are still being discussed.
The Artemis program began in 2022 with a successful uncrewed test flight around the Moon. The first crewed mission, Artemis 3, is planned for 2026, although the astronauts for this mission have yet to be announced.
This collaboration between Japan, the US, and the European Space Agency highlights the international cooperation and shared goals in exploring space. With the Artemis program bringing together astronauts from different countries to explore the Moon, the future of space exploration looks promising.
