US pledges to send an international astronaut to the moon

One of the core tenets of NASA’s Artemis program is the inclusion of international partners to return astronauts to the moon. Like the International Space Station, the program is intertwined with key themes of geopolitics and international relations, as well as U.S. national prestige, exploration, and scientific discovery.

Earlier this year, NASA appointed Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen to train the Artemis II crew for a possible mission around the far side of the moon. It will launch sometime in 2025. The flight will not land on the moon, but NASA plans a series of lunar landing missions starting with Artemis 3 later this decade.

Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Wednesday that an international astronaut will land on the moon during NASA’s Artemis mission.

“Today, in recognition of the important role our allies and partners play in the Artemis program, I am proud to announce our plans to join U.S. astronauts in sending an international astronaut to the Moon by the end of the century surface,” Harris told a meeting of the National Space Council.

While the National Space Council helps bring together the disparate interests of the U.S. government to help craft a more cohesive space policy, public meetings like Wednesday’s can seem perfunctory. Harris left the podium shortly after her speech, and other administration officials spent the remainder of the event reading prepared remarks.

Nonetheless, Harris’ statement underscores the role that the space program plays in advancing U.S. soft power. It is widely believed that international astronauts will eventually land on the moon with NASA. Harris set a deadline to achieve this goal.

among many friends

NASA has long invited astronauts from its international partners to participate in manned space missions, dating back to the ninth space shuttle flight in 1983, when West German astronaut Ulf Merbold and the fifth Americans flew into low Earth orbit together. U.S. government officials see it as a way to build closer ties with like-minded countries. Including foreign astronauts on U.S. missions also rewards partner nations that have made financial commitments to U.S.-led space programs by providing their citizens with a high-profile flight opportunity.

In a similar fashion, the Soviet Union offered its Cold War allies seats on Soyuz flights to low-Earth orbit. For years, China has invited international astronauts to the Tiangong Space Station. So far, only Chinese astronauts have visited Tiangong.

NASA managers allocate crew assignments to the International Space Station based on each partner’s financial contribution to the U.S.-led ISS operating costs. NASA is responsible for more than three-quarters of this part of the International Space Station’s budget, followed by Japan, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Canada. Russia is responsible for paying its portion of the International Space Station’s operating costs.

Of the international partners contributing to Artemis, European astronauts appear most likely to get the first chance at a NASA landing.

ESA funded the development of the servicing module used on NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which will transport astronauts from Earth to the moon and back. These modules provide power and propulsion for Orion. ESA is also developing refueling and communications infrastructure for the Gateway microspace station that will be built in orbit around the moon.

Japanese astronauts may also have a chance to get a seat on Artemis’ landing. The Japanese government is committed to providing life support systems for the Gateway International Habitat Module, as well as supply services to deliver cargo to the Gateway. Japan is also interested in building a pressurized rover for astronauts to travel across the lunar surface. In recognition of Japan’s contribution, NASA last year pledged to send a Japanese astronaut to the gateway number.

Canada is building a robotic arm for Gateway, but a Canadian astronaut has already landed a spot on NASA’s first manned Artemis mission, albeit without heading to the lunar surface.