Readout: NASA Administrator Bridenstine’s Visit to Japan (Day 2)

On Wednesday, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine continued his visit to Japan with a meeting hosted by 20 Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet members at the LDP Headquarters in Tokyo. The purpose of the visit was to brief key Japanese Diet members about the agency’s current activities and plans for future human space exploration. Following his remarks, the administrator answered questions from Diet members.

Watch Administrator Bridenstine’s speech to LDP members.

Following Bridenstine’s visit to LDP Headquarters, he participated in a press conference at the headquarters of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in Tokyo with JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa.

Bridenstine noted the exceptional international cooperation that currently exists on the International Space Station, highlighting Japan’s significant contributions to the program and congratulating JAXA on the recent successful launch of the of the HTV resupply vehicle.

Bridenstine reiterated NASA’s strong interest in enhancing cooperation with JAXA and highlighted its potential to play a critical role in the Artemis program, NASA’S innovative and sustainable exploration program, beginning with a mission to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024.

Watch the joint NASA-JAXA press conference.

The administrator then delivered a keynote at a luncheon of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan entitled Commercial Partnerships in Space Exploration. His remarks focused on the importance of NASA’s efforts in enabling a commercial marketplace in space.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine speaks to the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan on Sept. 25, 2019.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine speaks to the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan on Sept. 25, 2019.

After the luncheon, Bridenstine held a meeting with Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary to the Prime Minister of Japan, and Hiroto Izumi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan. The meeting focused on the 60-year history of space cooperation between the United States and Japan and the many areas in which Japan can make significant contributions to the Artemis program. The meeting was held at the official residence of the Japanese prime minister.

NASA Administrator Bridenstine presents a gift to Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary to the prime minister of Japan, on Sept. 25, 2019 at the Japanese prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo.
NASA Administrator Bridenstine presents a gift to Yoshihide Suga, chief cabinet secretary to the prime minister of Japan, on Sept. 25, 2019 at the Japanese prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo.

Later in the afternoon, Bridenstine met with Minister of Justice Katsuyuki Kawai, who is a long-time advocate within the government of Japan of U.S.-Japan cooperation in space exploration. They discussed U.S.-Japan human space flight cooperation, including the future of the space station and the important role Japan can play in the Artemis program.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is greeted on Sept. 25, 2019 by Katsuyuki Kawai, Minister of Justice for Japan.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is greeted on Sept. 25, 2019 by Katsuyuki Kawai, Minister of Justice for Japan.

The final meeting Wednesday was with Hiroaki Okuchi, Toyota President of Advanced R&D and Engineering Company. Okuchi briefed Bridenstine on a joint JAXA-Toyota pressurized lunar rover concept. Recognizing the importance that a lunar rover could have in supporting the Artemis program, JAXA is using toyota’s experience in automotive design to assess the technical feasibility of developing a pressurized lunar rover.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa and Toyota representative Hiroaki Okuchi meet at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Tokyo on Sept. 25, 2019.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa and Toyota representative Hiroaki Okuchi meet at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Tokyo on Sept. 25, 2019.

Readout: NASA Administrator Bridenstine’s Visit to Japan (Day 1)

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine arrived in Tokyo Monday, Sept. 23, to hold discussions on the agency’s Artemis program with key Japanese government officials and sign a Joint Statement on Cooperation in Lunar Exploration.

Bridenstine was greeted by the Charge d’ Affaires ad interim, Joseph Young, at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. They spoke at length about NASA’s plan to return to the Moon under the Artemis program and the strategic partnership the United States and Japan enjoy in space activities. Young emphasized that the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo will work diligently to help cement Japan’s involvement in Artemis.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Charge d’ Affaires ad interim Joseph Young at the U.S. Embassy in Japan.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Charge d’ Affaires ad interim Joseph Young at the U.S. Embassy in Japan.

Later in the morning, Bridenstine was interviewed by the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun.

Following the interview, Bridenstine met with Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), to discuss future bilateral cooperation and JAXA’s potential participation in NASA’s Artemis program. They identified several areas in which the United States and Japan can extend scientific and technological cooperation to advance sustainable exploration of the Moon, including on the lunar Gateway and the Moon’s surface.

They also discussed the possibility of NASA collaboration on JAXA’s Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM) mission, and JAXA’s plans to launch CubeSats on NASA’s Artemis I mission. Read the Joint Statement on Cooperation in Lunar Exploration online at https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2019/09/20190924a.html.

Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine sign a Joint Statement on Cooperation in Lunar Exploration Sept. 24, 2019, in Tokyo.
Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine sign a Joint Statement on Cooperation in Lunar Exploration Sept. 24, 2019, in Tokyo.

Following the signing of the joint statement with JAXA, Bridenstine met with Koichi Hagiuda, minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology – the parent ministry of JAXA – to discuss Japan’s participation on the Gateway and Artemis lunar surface activities.

Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Minister Koichi Hagiuda in Tokyo.
Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Koichi Hagiuda, minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, met Sept. 24, 2019, in Tokyo to discuss Japan’s potential role in Artemis.

In the afternoon, Bridenstine met with Naokazu Takemoto, Minister of State for Space Policy. Bridenstine briefed Takemoto on the progress NASA has made in developing the Space Launch System, Orion spacecraft and lunar Gateway. They also had an in-depth conversation on space policy and the importance of expanding cooperation between the United States and Japan in space activities.Following the meeting with Takemoto, Bridenstine conducted two media interviews with NHK and NIKKEI.Later in the afternoon, Bridenstine held a meeting with Yoshiyuki Kasai, chairman of the Space Policy Commission (SPC) of Japan. They discussed the strategic importance of ongoing and future cooperation in space, including NASA’s Artemis program. The SPC is an external advisory body made up of members from the private sector and academia that provides advice on space matters directly to Japan’s prime minister.

The final event of the day was a speaking engagement at the University of Tokyo, where Bridenstine spoke to approximately 300 students and members of the media about the Artemis program and the importance of international partnerships in the U.S.-led effort to return to the Moon by 2024. Following his speech, he took questions from students on topics ranging from how Japan will contribute to the Gateway and lunar surface activities to NASA’s efforts to send humans to Mars.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine speaks to students at the University of Tokyo Sept. 24, 2019.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine speaks to students at the University of Tokyo Sept. 24, 2019.

What is the Artemis Generation?

It’s hard to believe it was only six months ago that NASA was called to accelerate our plans to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024, and establish sustainable lunar exploration by 2028. In doing so, we also accelerated our plans for our next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.

We committed to making these goals a reality, and soon after, I announced the name for our efforts: the Artemis program.

Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo, and a goddess of the Moon. And she now personifies our path forward in more ways than one. With the Artemis program, we will land the first woman and next man on the Moon. Many have asked why we’re focused on sending the first woman. And I often say because it is about time! Our astronauts represent the best of us, and to do so, we must be able to see ourselves among them.

Today, our astronaut corps is diverse. Based on education and professional experience, millions of American women and men are eligible to apply to be NASA astronauts. Only a handful though are selected from each application class. In addition to pilots, astronauts today have a variety of backgrounds in STEM – they are doctors, geologists, biologists and more.

As the father of a young girl, it’s important my daughter can look to the stars and see herself in the face of the first woman to go the Moon. Whether or not she grows up to be a doctor and ultimately an astronaut, she needs to see that it is possible. I believe our astronaut corps today gives her that confidence. Like me and you, she is a part of the Artemis generation.

Not since Apollo has there been this much momentum to return to the lunar surface. Many other nations are interested in the Moon so this time, we’re not going alone. With Artemis, we will go forward to explore the Moon and beyond with innovative commercial and international partners.

And we will go to the Moon this time using modern technology and systems in ways that will allow us to return time and time again. This too is different with the Artemis generation – we will see long-term robotic and human exploration of our nearest neighbor. Then we will take what we learn at the Moon, and head to Mars.

#AskNASA

In the coming weeks, we will highlight more of our Artemis plans. We’re starting with the basics – answering questions such as Why are we going back to the Moon? How do we get there? And finally, who is going with us?

We’ll address these questions and more with a fun, new digital series called #AskNASA. If you have a question about the Moon and Mars, or really, anything you want to know about our agency, send it our way. Submit questions on Twitter using the hashtag #AskNASA or online using our webform.

We look forward to answering your questions. In doing so, we’re hoping to inform and inspire you…the Artemis generation.