Long-awaited for 50 years! Japanese Female Astronaut Aims to Set Foot on the Lunar Surface | WPN World People News

The U.S.-led Artemis lunar exploration program will send astronauts to the moon in 2025. It is now known that at least two Japanese astronauts will be part of the program, and once a decision is made to allow Japanese astronauts to go to the Moon, it will be the first time that Japanese astronauts will go to the surface of the Moon, and Japan will be the second country to go to the Moon.

After the Apollo 17 moon landing half a century ago, a manned landing on the moon's surface is highly anticipated. The "Artemis" program involves Japan and the European Union, and aims to explore the moon's surface and build a base. According to the source, at least one Japanese man has been confirmed to land on the moon, while a second man is still under discussion. In principle, the U.S. and Japan will sign a cooperation document in January 2024 regarding activities on the moon's surface after final coordination.

The U.S. completed the Artemis I mission in November-December 2022, and is expected to launch the first manned spaceflight mission, Artemis II, in November 2024, followed by Artemis III in December 2025, which will be the second manned flight and the first manned lunar landing. This will be followed by Artemis III in December 2025, which will be the second manned flight and the first manned mission to the Moon, with the first female astronaut and the first non-white man on the Moon.