On Friday, January 13, representatives from the United States and Japan gathered at NASA's Headquarters in Washington to sign an agreement that builds on the long history of collaboration in space exploration between the two countries. The event was hosted by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy.
On behalf of the United States, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa signed the agreement.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, front left, and Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hayashi Yoshimasa, front right, shake hands after signing an agreement that builds on a long history of collaboration in space exploration between the U.S. and Japan, Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington.
Future of Space Industry Is Collaborative
Blinken pointed out that the future of space is a collaboration with nations and that through this agreement, the US and Japan have enhanced their relationship in space and on Earth. More so, it will help them go even further and learn as a group.
The signing is one of the highlights of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's first visit to Washington since assuming office in 2021. He remarked that they anticipate the agreement to strongly develop Japan-US space collaboration and to broaden the two countries' scope of cooperation as they now have a stronger coalition than before.
Other witnesses in attendance included US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, Japanese Ambassador to the US Tomita Koji, JAXA President Yamakawa Hiroshi, and Chirag Parikh, Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Space Council. NASA astronaut Anne McClain and JAXA astronaut Hoshide Akihiko were also present.
The agreement is "known as the "Framework Agreement Between the Governments of Japan and 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," SciTech Daily reports.
It acknowledges a shared interest in peaceful exploration for both countries, as they want to improve their space partnership. Emanuel said that this represents relationship and relationship between the US and Japan.
The framework encompasses a wide range of collaborative efforts, such as aeronautical science and technology, space science, space technology, space transportation, space operations and exploration, Earth science, safety and mission assurance, and much more.
An earlier agreement between NASA and Japan was concluded in November 2022, confirming the latter's contributions to Gateway as part of a commitment to long-term lunar exploration collaboration with NASA under the Artemis program. Japan was also an initial signatory to the Artemis Accords.
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Role of Commercial Space Companies in the Future
Commercial space operations have expanded dramatically during the last decade. As a result, some academics see a future of space cooperation characterized by common business interests. As per an article in Astronomy, commercial enterprises operate as mediators between nations in this scenario, unifying them behind specific commercial ventures in space.
But they are unlikely to dictate future international space collaboration. According to current international space law, every firm that works in space acts as an extension of - and is subject to the authority of - the government of its home country.
The Ukraine conflict has highlighted the power of nations over corporations in space affairs. Many commercial space businesses have stopped cooperation with Russia as a result of state-imposed restrictions. It appears that states, rather than private companies, will continue to set the laws in space given the present legal structure.
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