The NASA Artemis mission would add another historic landmark for its future ventures, with a Japanese astronaut reportedly joining the flight and landing on the Moon.
The astronaut remains unnamed, but reports claimed that a new agreement between the United States and Japan was confirmed earlier today, and the Japanese native will join the future crew.
If this is confirmed more solidly in the future, it will be the first time that a non-American astronaut will venture to and land on the lunar surface.
NASA Artemis: First Japanese Astronaut Joining the Moon Mission
reported that the US and Japan have agreed to include an unnamed Japanese astronaut in their four-person crew for the future Artemis mission. This will take the said Japanese astronaut to the Moon, the first time the US will open its lunar vessel to an international crewmember for a trip to the natural satellite.
This was announced earlier when Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida went to Washington for a state visit, meeting with US President Joe Biden last Wednesday, April 10.
It follows the late last year announcement of the US government regarding landing international astronauts to the Moon, as part of the Artemis mission under NASA.
Historic Artemis: First Lady and Non-American Astronauts
The future Artemis missions will feature the first lady astronaut from NASA to land on the Moon, as well as the aforementioned Japanese astronaut. However, there are also other non-American astronauts slated for a trip to the Moon.
2025's Artemis II will feature one Canadian astronaut for the fly-by, and future missions will launch three European Space Agency astronauts and another Canadian crew member to venture to the Lunar Gateway.
That being said, the Japanese astronaut was the only one revealed for a lunar landing.
NASA Artemis Moon Mission
The Artemis Moon mission is more than the United States and NASA's plans to return to the natural satellite, as it brings more meaning to the modern space exploration industry alongside partnerships and collaborations.
Countries like Japan, Australia, Canada, Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, EU nations like Greece, and more are also supporting the Artemis Accords.
For NASA's Moon mission itself, it is also pumping the brakes for its upcoming launch missions, particularly as earlier this year, the space agency announced a one-year delay for all missions.
The American space agency is prioritizing 'crew safety' for future missions, with 2025 marking the mission window for Artemis II and the astronaut crew going on a fly-by mission.
The first landings will still take place before the end of the decade, with 2026 ushering in the return of humans to the Moon with the Artemis III crewed mission.
With the US and Japan's confirmation, a Japanese astronaut will join the fated Artemis crew for their lunar venture, marking two pages in the history books at once, centering on the first female crew member and non-American astronaut coming to the Moon.
