Japanese astronaut to be first non-American to set foot on Moon

TOKYO: A Japanese astronaut will become the first non-American to set foot on the Moon during one of Nasa’s upcoming Artemis missions, US President Joe Biden has announced.

The offer to Japan, an opportunity many nations have long dreamed of, came as part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit, and as the US seeks to strengthen ties with its key Asian ally.

“Two Japanese astronauts will join future American missions, and one will become the first non-American ever to land on the moon,” Biden said in a press conference with Kishida.

Kishida hailed the announcement as a “huge achievement” and announced that Japan would in return supply a rover for the programme.

Nasa’s Artemis programme seeks to return humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, and to build a sustained lunar presence ahead of potential missions to Mars.

Between 1969 and 1972, the US Apollo programme saw 12 Americans, all white men, walk on the Moon.

Nasa previously announced that the Artemis programme would see the first woman and the first person of colour land on the Moon.

The first mission to take astronauts to the lunar surface, Artemis 3, is planned for 2026. China meanwhile has said it seeks to put humans on the Moon by 2030.

The European Space Agency is expected to also get seats on future Artemis missions in exchange for technological contributions to the programme.