Japanese astronauts to join NASA lunar mission

Japanese astronauts will make history as the first individuals from outside the US to participate in a NASA mission to the moon, announced by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday during a state visit by Japan's prime minister.

US-Japan "ties stretch up to the Moon where two Japanese astronauts will join future American missions, and one will become the first non-American ever to land on the Moon," Biden stated during a press conference at the White House. Until now, only Americans have set foot on the lunar surface, with the last mission more than 50 years ago. Officials with NASA's Artemis program aim to resume sending astronauts to the moon in 2026.