Japan announces plans to land an astronaut on the Moon by 2030. The ambitious plan depends on future involvement in a new space station set to be installed in the Moon's orbit.

From Sky News

Japan has announced plans to send an astronaut to the Moon by 2030, as part of a new strategy for space travel in the country.

If successful, the mission would be the first time the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has sent a human being further than the International Space Station (ISS).

While the station orbits approximately 200 miles (320 km) from Earth, the Moon is around 238,855 miles (384,000 km) away from our planet.

In anticipation of the goal, Japan hopes to join a 2025 NASA-led mission to build a new space station in the Moon's orbit.

A contribution of cutting-edge technology will give Japan an edge over other countries, hopefully guaranteeing a sought-after spot at the space station, the agency says.

In October 2016 a crew of astronauts from Japan, the USA and Kazakhstan returned to Earth after 115 days on the ISS.

http://news.sky.com/story/japan-announces-plans-to-land-an-astronaut-on-the-moon-by-2030-10932387

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