NASA chief says security is needed to explore space safely

TOKYO – The head of NASA said Wednesday that space security was needed so that the United States, Japan and others could safely explore the moon and Mars.

NASA's director, Jim Bridenstine, also said during his visit to Tokyo that he wanted to take the US space partnership with Japan to a higher level by stepping up cooperation by traveling to the moon, then on Mars.

But he said it will only be possible if the space is kept in a safe place.

"NASA fully supports the idea of ​​security of space," he said.

Japan and the United States have a long history of cooperation in space science, including the ongoing program of the International Space Station.

"All of our partners and allies need to understand how important space is and understand that we will do what is necessary to preserve it," said Bridenstine. "And to the extent that NASA and JAXA continue to explore space, it will only be because it's secure."

On Tuesday, NASA and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) confirmed Japan's participation in the Moon and Mars exploration projects in the United States, including an Artemis lunar mission.

The US and Japanese governments are expanding their security alliance in space despite China's growing activity.

Bridenstine said that it was time to move on to the next step: a lasting human presence on the Moon and possibly on Mars. He said he expects much from Japan's contribution to future missions.

Bridenstine said he was in Japan to obtain support, including financial support, from the manned lunar mission scheduled for 2024.

Answering a question about the feasibility of sending astronauts to the moon in three years, he said NASA would rather speed up the timing to avoid the political risk of taking too much time to complete the program.

Also Tuesday, a Japanese rocket took off from a JAXA launch site in southern Japan to deliver powerful new lithium-ion batteries to the space station.

The cargo is expected to arrive Saturday at the space station to allow astronauts to leave in the space to replace old batteries with new batteries.

JAXA is one of the organizations that makes periodic deliveries to the space station.