ISTANBUL – Japan today announced a recruitment campaign for astronauts, as it aims to send a mission to the Moon in the latter half of the 2020s.
For the first time in 13 years, the Japan Space Agency (Jaxa) announced recruitment for the coveted post, which will likely conclude by 2023.
“We are looking for people who can contribute to the development of aerospace research and development from various fields, not limited to experience in the aerospace industry,” Anadolu reported Jaxa as saying.
Last October, Japan’s former education and science minister Koichi Hagiuda had said the aim is to have a Japanese national on the Moon for the first time.
The country has seven astronauts as part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and three of them have already travelled to outer space.
The selected group of astronauts could be part of a United States-led lunar exploration project.
“We will solicit applications around every five years from now on to maintain a group of astronauts (in readiness),” Koichi added.
At least 963 individuals have applied for the position so far.
The US is aiming to send humans to the Moon by 2024 – under its Artemis programme – for the first time since Nasa’s 1972 Apollo 17 mission. – Bernama, December 20, 2021
