WASHINGTON, January 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — During an event hosted by the NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and deputy administrator Pam Melroy at the agency’s headquarters in Washington Friday, representatives out The United States and Japan gathered to sign an agreement that builds on a long history of cooperation in space exploration between the two nations.

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinking and Japan’s foreign minister Hayashi Yoshimasa signed the agreement on behalf of The United States and Japanor.

“The future of space is collaborative,” said Blinken. “Through this agreement, our nations have strengthened our partnership in space and here on Earth. We will go further and learn more together.”

The signing is a highlight of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s visit to Washingtonhis first since taking office in 2021.

“I anticipate that this agreement will vigorously promote Japan-US space cooperation and expand areas of cooperation for the Japan-US alliance, which is stronger than ever,” Kishida said.

Among the other witnesses present was US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, the Japanese Ambassador to the US Tomita KojiPresident of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Yamakawa Hiroshi, and Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Space Council Chirag Parich. NASA astronaut Anne McClain and JAXA astronaut Hoshide Akihiko also attended the event.

“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 continue working together across our agencies’ broad portfolios in exploration, science and research,” said Nelson.

Known as the “Framework Agreement between the Government of Japan and the government of the United States of America for cooperation in the exploration of space and the use of space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, for peaceful purposes”, this pact recognizes a mutual…