NASA, Japan Sign Lunar Exploration Agreement

NASA and Japan have significantly advanced their space partnership through a comprehensive new agreement focused on lunar exploration.

The agreement signing, which took place at NASA Headquarters, was attended by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Japan’s Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Masahito Moriyama and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency President Hiroshi Yamakawa, NASA said.

Under the agreement, Japan will design, develop and operate a sophisticated pressurized rover for missions to the moon while NASA will be responsible for launching the rover and will provide two opportunities for Japanese astronauts to participate in future Artemis lunar missions.

NASA said the rover, designed to be both a mobile habitat and lab, will carry the astronauts for up to 30 days near the lunar South Pole. NASA also plans to use it on Artemis VII and later missions.

The agreement builds upon the Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Space Exploration signed by the U.S. and Japan in January 2023. The framework agreement established a foundation for extensive collaboration on numerous space-related projects, including missions focusing on Earth science, space technology and aeronautical science.