NASA, JAXA and Toyota collaborate on the development of a pressurized Japanese lunar rover . In a ceremony at NASA headquarters, Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, and Masahito Moriyama, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, made this agreement official.
Space cooperation for the Japanese lunar rover
This lunar rover will be designed and operated by Japan, while NASA will be in charge of its launch and delivery to the Moon, in addition to integrating Japanese astronauts in future lunar missions.
Likewise, during this event, the bilateral commitment to space exploration was reaffirmed with the announcement that a Japanese astronaut could be the first of his nationality to set foot on the Moon in one of the upcoming Artemis missions, provided certain crucial milestones are met. .
This vehicle, in addition to expanding mobility capacity, will allow scientific tasks to be carried out in geographically varied areas of the lunar surface, functioning as a mobile habitat and laboratory where astronauts will be able to reside and work for up to 30 days.
” This collaboration symbolizes a new chapter in the relationship between Japan and the United States, marking a milestone in our alliance for lunar exploration ,” said Moriyama during the signing of the agreement. This pact is part of a broader framework of cooperation in space exploration and peaceful use of space, previously established in January 2023, which also includes the joint development of future space missions and technologies.
Advances in lunar exploration
JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa highlighted the rover’s essential role in future mission architectures and how the Japanese agency’s technological and scientific expertise will contribute to establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon. In addition, the agreement provides for the integration of a Japanese astronaut into the Artemis Gateway mission, further strengthening international collaboration on large-scale projects.
The Artemis missions are designed to return humans to the Moon and aim to do so in an inclusive manner. The Agency has committed to making the crews of these missions reflect diversity, with plans to send the first woman and the first person of color to the Moon. The vision of this space cooperation expands representativeness and ensures that the benefits and discoveries of lunar exploration are shared more equitably globally.
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Source: nasa.gov
Photo: elcomercio.pe
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