US, Japan Launch Bid to Put First Japanese Astronaut on Moon
- Two countries to collaborate on human, robotic lunar missions
- NASA has warned of growing tensions between US and China
The US-led Artemis project is an effort to return astronauts to the moon and eventually send humans to Mars.
Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The US and Japan agreed to work to put the first Japanese astronaut on the moon, accompanied by an American astronaut, as the longtime allies develop a partnership aimed at countering China.
The two countries said in a joint statement they’d collaborate on human and robotic moon missions “including a shared ambition to see a future Japanese astronaut on the lunar surface,” with a goal of signing an implementation agreement this year.