The United States And Japan Will Cooperate In The Return To The Moon

The governments of the United States and Japan agreed on greater space cooperation that could include the flight of Japanese astronauts to the Moon.

At a joint press conference in Tokyo on May 27 with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, President Donald Trump mentioned cooperation in space exploration as a result of his meetings during the president's visit to the country.

"I am pleased to confirm that Prime Minister Abe and I agreed to dramatically expand the cooperation of our nations in the exploration of human space," said Trump. "Japan will join our mission of sending American astronauts into space, we will go to the Moon, we will go to Mars very soon, it is very exciting."

Neither Trump nor Abe will develop the nature of that agreement. An information sheet published in the Department of State on May 27 said two parts.

"Based on their experience on the International Space Station (ISS), Japanese astronauts will strive to join astronauts on the Moon and destinations beyond," says the State Department fact sheet.

It is expected that a cooperation agreement between the United States and Japan will be signed during Trump's visit. Japan, an important partner of the ISS, had shown interest in participating in aspects of NASA, renewed momentum to return to the Moon, and included the modules of the gateway that NASA plans to develop in lunar orbit to support The human landings.

"It is a great pleasure to collaborate with NASA in that effort," said Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of the Japanese space agency JAXA, in a video published by NASA on May 28 about international cooperation in the development of the Gateway and his lunar plans in general.

In a May 28 tweet, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said he was "very excited" by the agreement announced by Trump and Abe. "Japan and [JAXA] are critical partners and our efforts to move towards the Moon and towards Mars!"

With NASA accelerating its planes to return humans to the lunar surface by 2024, compared to the 2028 date in their previous plans, the main roles for international partners will be differentiated in the second phase, which will focus on establishing a sustainable human presence in and around the moon after the landing of 2024. This refers to the Gateway modules, which grant spaces to contributing countries on subsequent landing missions in the same way that the ISS partners to the slots of crew on missions of space stations.

"Recognition Ken Bowersox, assistant administrator associated with exploration and human operations at NASA, during a May 28 meeting of the NASA Advisory Board committee." We are still looking to work with our international partners. Many of its elements will come after 2024 of all modes. "

However, it will be added to international partners.

It is not clear if this agreement has an effect on other aspects of the space activities of the United States and Japan, public companies, companies welcome the agreement in any case. An example is a space of the Japanese company, which is becoming a launcher of a vehicle led by a team led by the American company. Draper who won one of NASA's nine lunar cargo commercial services last November to transport research to the lunar surface.

Said Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of Space, in a statement to SpaceNews, said Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of Space. "Together with our American partner, Draper, he is well prepared and eager to support this new effort between the US and Japan."

By: Preeti Narula

Content: https://spacenews.com/u-s-and-japan-to-cooperate-on-return-to-the-moon/