On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden revealed that a fortunate Japanese astronaut will make history as the first non-American to step foot on the Moon during one of NASA’s forthcoming Artemis missions.
The opportunity extended to Japan fulfills a dream shared by many nations and coincides with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit, reflecting Washinton’s aim to bolster relations with its significant Asian ally.
“Two Japanese astronauts will join future American missions, and one will become the first non-American ever to land on the Moon,” Biden said in a press conference with Kishida. Kishida hailed the announcement as a “huge achievement” and announced that Japan would in return supply a rover for the program.
The Artemis program by NASA aims to achieve a significant milestone: returning humans to the Moon for the first time in more than five decades. Additionally, it aims to establish a continuous presence on the lunar surface in preparation for potential missions to Mars.
“America will no longer walk on the Moon alone,” NASA chief Bill Nelson said in a video published on social media.
“Diplomacy is good for discovery. And discovery is good for diplomacy,” he added.
Artemis 3, the inaugural mission intended to transport astronauts to the lunar surface, is planned for 2026. Meanwhile, China has expressed its ambition to land humans on the Moon by 2030. For years, Tokyo and Washington have maintained a collaborative partnership in the space domain, notably engaging in joint operations at the International Space Station.
