Japan Will Help NASA Build a Space Station Near the Moon

Hello reader! 

Below follows a note one published in on the day (22/08), in the website "Engadget", announcing that Japan will help NASA build a Space Station near the Moon.

Duda Falcão

Japan Will Help NASA Build a Space Station Near the Moon

It will help with the agency's Lunar Gateway project.

By Mariella Moon

22h ago in Space

Source: NHK, The Japan Times 

Photo: NASA 

Back in September, NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) revealed their intention to work together under the Artemis program. Now, it's official -- Japan will join NASA's quest to go to Mars and to return to the Moon. The Japanese government has accepted the country's space policy committee's recommendation to help with NASA's Lunar Gateway project during a meeting attended by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and cabinet members.

According to The Japan Times, the Asian country will "offer technical cooperation for the construction" of the Lunar Gateway, which will serve as temporary home and office for astronauts in lunar orbit. In particular, Japan will provide life-support system devices, air-conditioning equipment and batteries, among other things. However, the publication says the committee withheld its decision on whether to help NASA with the construction of the gateway itself due to cost concerns. The Lunar Gateway will feature living quarters for astronauts, laboratories and docking ports for spacecraft going to and from the Moon.

Yoshiyuki Kasai, the panel's chairman, said at a news conference:

"We will express our intention at an early stage so we can strengthen our relationship of trust with the United States and by this, we expect Japanese astronauts will be able to take part in travel to the moon."

The partnership could also benefit Japanese space companies like ispace. Takeshi Hakamada, ispace's founder and CEO, said he welcomes "this development with great optimism for the future of lunar exploration." ispace is working on a commercial lunar transportation, after all.

Japan isn't the only country joining forces with NASA to support its Moon and Mars exploration plans. Australia announced its partnership with the agency in September, and The Japan Times says the European Space Agency is expected to announce its participation in the near future.

Source: Website Engadget - https://www.engadget.com

Comentário: Bom leitor, mesmo essa notícia chegando ao nosso conhecimento com alguns meses de atraso, a mesma é sensacional, pois demonstra que a NASA está aberta para cooperação com as suas missões lunares, e neste momento em que o Brasil se aproxima de uma colaboração mais ativa com TIO SAM neste setor,  e no momento em que o nosso ‘Patinho Feio’ parece caminhar (assim espero) para se tornar em breve um belo e majestoso ‘Cisne Branco’, esta notícia abre um horizonte de oportunidades que podem, devem e creio serão trabalhadas pelo Governo Bolsonaro junto a essa agência espacial e ao seu governo. É Claro leitor, sem repetir os erros de outrora, coisa que o Ministro Pontes e sua equipe tem competência para realizar. Galera temos um Programa Espacial de verdade para construir, sem contar o fato de sequer sermos ainda uma nação de verdade, há muito trabalho por se fazer e espero seja feito. Aproveito para agradecer ao nosso leitor, amigo e colaborador Rui Botelho pelo envio desta notícia. Well done my friend.