During an event hosted by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington on Friday, January 13th, representatives from the United States and Japan gathered to sign an agreement that builds on a long history of collaboration in space exploration between the two nations.
Known as the “Framework Agreement Between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation in Space Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, For Peaceful Purposes,” this pact recognizes a mutual interest in peaceful exploration.
The signing is a highlight of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s visit to Washington, his first since his taking office in 2021.
Among the other witnesses in attendance were the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, the Japanese Ambassador to the U.S., Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency President (JAXA) Yamakawa Hiroshi, and the Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Space Council. NASA astronaut Anne McClain and JAXA astronaut Hoshide Akihiko also participated in the event.
NASA and the Government of Japan finalized a previous agreement in November of 2022, confirming Japan’s contributions to Gateway as part of a commitment to long-term lunar exploration cooperation with NASA under the Artemis program. Japan also was one of the original signatories of the Artemis Accords.
The framework covers a broad swath of joint activities between the countries, including space science, Earth science, space operations and exploration, aeronautical science and technology, space technology, space transportation, safety and mission assurance, and much more.
“The future of space is collaborative,” said Anthony Blinken. “Through this agreement, our nations have strengthened our partnership in space and here on Earth. We will go farther and learn even more together.”
“I expect this agreement to vigorously promote Japan-U.S. space cooperation and expand areas of cooperation for the Japan-U.S. alliance, which is stronger than ever before,” said Kishida.
“From Low Earth Orbit to the Moon and beyond, Japan is one of NASA’s most significant international partners, and this latest framework agreement will allow us to further collaborate across our agencies’ broad portfolios in exploration, science, and research,” said Nelson.