Japan designs lunar rover as US plots return to moon

JAXA's planned cargo vehicle to resupply Gateway station in satellite's orbit

U.S. astronaut Eugene Cernan stands next to a lunar rover during the last Apollo mission to the moon in 1972. © Reuters

HIROYUKI AKIYAMA, Nikkei staff writer

December 2, 2019 02:00 JST

TOKYO -- Japan will develop a manned moon rover as the country plays an important role in U.S. President Donald Trump's ambitious mission to return American astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024.

The rover forms a major part of Tokyo's participation in the Artemis program, Nikkei has learned. Japan also will provide an unmanned space vehicle now under development to ferry supplies to the planned Gateway lunar orbital station, which will be central to the moon mission.