NASA and the Japanese government on Thursday announced new contributions from Japan to Gateway, a key part of the agency’s Artemis missions for long-term lunar exploration.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson participated virtually from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in an event in Tokyo that included the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Keiko Nagaoka, as well as US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel.
As part of the Bridge Implementation Arrangement, NASA will offer an astronaut from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) the opportunity to serve as a Bridge Crewmember during a future Artemis mission. This officially marks the first U.S. commitment to fly a Japanese astronaut beyond low Earth orbit aboard NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft.
In addition to the Gateway Agreement, Minister Nagaoka announced Japan’s commitment to participate in the International Space Station program through 2030, the first international partner to join the United States in formally committing to space station operations until 2030.
“The alliance between Japan and the United States is a cornerstone of peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world. Space cooperation is an essential component of our alliance. While in Tokyo in September, Prime Minister Kishida and I discussed our mutual interest in strengthening our cooperation in outer space in the commercial, civil and security sectors. And today, building on that and many other discussions between our governments, we are getting results,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “Japan’s contributions will advance scientific knowledge and protect our brave astronauts exploring the depths of space. And that brings us one day closer to the walk of a Japanese astronaut on the Moon. Today, we celebrate U.S.-Japan cooperation in space, which has never been stronger.
“For decades, Japanese and American astronauts have worked together to promote science and exploration in low Earth orbit. Today’s Gateway agreement represents the achievement commitments made by the Biden-Harris administration and strengthens the collaboration of our nations, which will help ensure continued discoveries on Gateway, the International Space Station and beyond. said Nelson. “There is no doubt that discovery strengthens the U.S.-Japan partnership, and discovery strengthens democracy – in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. With this agreement, the United States and Japan will create more well-paying jobs, more research and development capabilities, and a growing ability to compete together in the 21st century.
Japan’s contributions to Gateway include essential elements of the International Habitation Module (I-HAB) which will provide the core of the Gateway space station’s survivability capabilities, as well as space for the crew to live, conduct research and prepare for lunar surface activities during Artemis Missions. Japan will provide I-HAB’s ECLSS (Environmental Control and Life Support System), thermal monitoring system functions and cameras.
Japan will also provide batteries for the I-HAB, the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module, the initial crew cabin for astronauts visiting the Gateway, and the European Spacecraft Resupply Module. refueling and telecommunications infrastructure (ESPRIT).
In addition, Japan will provide the JAXA HTV-XG spacecraft for the launch and delivery of a logistics resupply mission for Gateway, scheduled no later than 2030.
Japan’s contributions to Gateway will support longer stays at the outpost in lunar orbit, enabling successful Artemis missions that advance deep space exploration and scientific research.
NASA’s Gateway program is an international collaboration to establish humanity’s first space station around the Moon as a core component of NASA’s Artemis missions. Gateway will provide many capabilities for sustained deep space exploration and research, including docking ports for a variety of visiting spacecraft, space for crew to live and work, and scientific investigations on board to study heliophysics, human health and life sciences, among other fields. Gateway will be an essential platform for the development of technologies and capabilities to support future Mars exploration.
NASA welcomed Japan’s announcement that space station operations will continue until 2030. NASA and its international partners are conducting critical science, research and technology demonstrations aboard the orbiting laboratory that make possible long-duration missions to the Gateway and the Moon. Japan’s commitment to space station operations through 2030, together with the United States, will help continue to maximize humanity’s understanding of the human health challenges associated with spaceflight and prove the technologies that will be necessary for deep space exploration. Such research benefits Earth’s inhabitants and lays the foundation for future human exploration beyond low Earth orbit through the agency’s Artemis missions.
Learn more about NASA’s Gateway program at: https://nasa.gov/gateway
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