During an event hosted by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy at the agency’s headquarters in Washington on Friday, representatives of the United States and Japan gathered to sign an agreement that builds on the long history of cooperation in space exploration between the two countries.
US Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa signed the agreement on behalf of the United States and Japan, respectively.
“The future of space is collaboration,” Blinken said. “Thanks to this agreement, our countries have strengthened our partnership in space and here on Earth. We will go further and learn even more together.”
The signing is a highlight of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s visit to Washington, his first since taking office in 2021.
“I expect that this agreement will actively promote Japan-US space cooperation and expand the areas of cooperation for a Japan-US alliance that is stronger than ever before,” Kishida said.
Other witnesses present included U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Tomita Koji, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) President Hiroshi Yamakawa, and Deputy Assistant to the President and National Space Council Executive Secretary Chirag Parikh. NASA astronaut Ann McClain and JAXA astronaut Hoshide Akihiko also participated in the event.
“From low Earth orbit to the moon and beyond, Japan is one of NASA’s most important international partners, and this latest framework agreement will allow us to continue our collaboration across our agencies’ broad portfolio of intelligence, science and research,” Nelson said. .
This treaty, known as the “Framework Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation in the Exploration of Space and the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies,” recognizes mutual interest. in peaceful research. It completes after visit of President Joe Biden to Japan in May 2022 and a visit to Tokyo by Vice President Kamala Harris, Chair of the National Space Council, in September 2022.
Strengthening space cooperation between the US and Japan is a priority for both.
“This signing symbolizes not only space exploration, but also the partnership and friendship between the United States and Japan,” Emanuel said. “This is a new beginning.”
The framework program covers a wide range of joint activities between the countries, including space science, earth science, space operations and research, aeronautical science and technology, space technology, space transportation, safety and mission assurance and many others.
“I hope that Japan-US space cooperation will further deepen based on this agreement, as it will benefit the future of mankind,” Hayashi said.
NASA and the Japanese government have completed previous agreement in November 2022, confirming Japan’s contributions to Gateway as part of NASA’s commitment to long-term lunar exploration through the Artemis program. Japan was also one of the first signatories of the Artemis Agreement.
