For the first time in 13 years, Japan has certified two new astronauts, with both of them set to continue their training in the U.S. in preparation for becoming the first non-U.S. astronauts to set foot on the moon under NASA's Artemis program.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) officially certified 29-year-old Ayu Yoneda – its youngest new recruit – on Tuesday, following more than a year of basic training.
Yoneda, a former surgeon with the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center — and the nation’s third female astronaut — along with Makoto Suwa, a 47-year-old former disaster risk specialist with the World Bank, are set to relocate to the U.S., where they will continue training in anticipation of joining the future lunar missions.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.