Japan and the US today announced their intention to send the first Japanese astronaut to the moon, while the two allies are working to deepen cooperation on space projects.

So far, no non -Americans have landed on the Moon, and Japan has previously said it hopes to send a mission to the Moon by the end of this decade.

After his first direct meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, US President Joe Biden said the two countries would work together on the US -led Artemis program to send astronauts to the Moon and then to Mars.

Biden was “delighted” with the partnership, including the Gateway facility, which will orbit the moon and provide support for future missions.

Japan’s space program focused on satellites and probes, prompting Japanese astronauts to move to the United States and Russia to go to the International Space Station.

But the Japan Aerospace Agency (JAXA) is keen to boost their rankings and last year launched the first recruitment of new astronauts in 13 years.

It also removed the need for applicants to have a degree and encouraged women to apply because the country’s seven current astronauts are men.