Both leaders announced this in Washington on Wednesday, Ukrinform reported. NHK.

Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Moriyama Masahito and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson signed an agreement setting out their common goals. Japanese astronauts are expected to participate in two expeditions.

During their lunar missions, they will use a vehicle developed by the Japanese space agency JAXA, Toyota and others.

Moriyama said Japan’s government, industry and academia are working together to develop a lunar rover that can withstand the harsh conditions of the moon. Nelson emphasized that when two great nations work together, they can expand their influence to the stars.

According to representatives of the Japanese government, research and development for the lunar rover requires several hundred billion yen.

Until now, only American astronauts had to set foot on the surface of the Moon. The last time was more than 50 years ago. NASA’s Artemis program hopes to start sending astronauts to the moon again in 2026.

The White House, Ukrinform reported The space agency instructed NASA to create a single time standard for the Moon and other celestial bodies in order to establish international standards in space.