NEWS
2024.4.11 NASA and Japanese Government sign the Implementing Arrangement concerning Lunar Surface Exploration using the Pressurized Rover
On April 10 (April 9 in US), 2024, the “Implementing Arrangement between the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of America concerning Lunar Surface Exploration using the Pressurized Rover” was signed by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT), Masahito Moriyama.
- View full text of IA : https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20240411-mxt_uchukai02-000035256_1.pdf
Signing Ceremony (April 10 (April 9 in US), 2024, Washington D.C.)
This is the first Implementing Arrangement signed under the “Framework Agreement Between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation in Space Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, For Peaceful Purposes”, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time Yoshimasa Hayashi in January 2023, with the participation of the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the signing ceremony.
Under this Implementing Arrangement, the provision of a Pressurized Rover by Japan as well as opportunities for two Japanese astronauts to land and carry activities on the lunar surface are stipulated.
Artist's Impression of the Pressurized Rover (credit : TOYOTA)
The Crewed Pressurized Rover is the world's first lunar rover system that allows astronauts to travel on the Moon’s surface without space suit and will greatly expand the area of human activities in future lunar exploration. To fulfill Japan's role in the Artemis Program, JAXA will steadily conduct research and development of the Crewed Pressurized Rover and make necessary preparations for Japanese astronauts’ activities on the lunar surface.
For the creation of new human knowledge and the expansion of our activity areas, JAXA will continue efforts to further accelerate international cooperation in the Artemis Program.