U.S.-Japan Space Forum in Texas, 2025
2025/12/4
Video message from the Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Brian Babin.
Scene from the panel discussion. (From left：Dr. David Alexander (Director of Rice Space Institute), Dr. Michael Baine (Axiom Space), Mr. Olivier Farache (Vast Space), Mr. Tim Kopra (Voyager Technologies), Mr. Kazuya Yufu (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), Mr. Yudai Yamamoto (Japan LEO Shachu, Inc.), Dr. Randy Lillard (Blue Origin))
With NASA astronaut Ms. Nichole Ayers and JAXA astronaut Mr. Takuya Onishi
On December 2, the Consulate-General of Japan in Houston co-hosted the "U.S.-Japan Space Forum in Texas, 2025" with the Japan-America Society of Houston, along with cooperation from JAXA and Rice University. The forum was attended by approximately 130 participants, including Ms. Donna Shafer, Associate Center Director of Johnson Space Center; NASA astronaut Ms. Nichole Ayers; JAXA astronaut Mr. Takuya Onishi; U.S. congressional staff members; officials from the State of Texas and the State of Oklahoma; representatives from Japanese and American space-related organizations and companies; and members of academia.
In the opening greeting, Consul General Naganuma emphasized the significance of U.S.-Japan space cooperation from the perspectives of scientific and technological advancement, business, and national security. He also highlighted the recent successful operation in which JAXA’s unmanned cargo spacecraft "HTV-X1," launched from Japan and was securely captured by the ISS’s robotic arm, showcasing the steady progress of U.S.-Japan collaboration in space.
The greetings continued with a letter from Senator John Cornyn and a video message from the Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Brian Babin, stressing the importance of U.S.-Japan space cooperation and expressing their hopes for its continued development.
To end the greetings, Ms. Donna Shafer delivered remarks and introduced NASA projects on behalf of NASA. Next, astronauts Ms. Ayers and Mr. Onishi delivered a joint keynote speech. The main presentations followed, with six U.S. and Japanese space-related companies introducing overviews of their activities before coming together for a panel discussion moderated by Rice Space Institute Director Dr. David Alexander. Afterwards, a networking reception was held for space industry and academic participants from both countries.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Houston will continue to promote and strengthen U.S.-Japan cooperation in the space sector.
In the opening greeting, Consul General Naganuma emphasized the significance of U.S.-Japan space cooperation from the perspectives of scientific and technological advancement, business, and national security. He also highlighted the recent successful operation in which JAXA’s unmanned cargo spacecraft "HTV-X1," launched from Japan and was securely captured by the ISS’s robotic arm, showcasing the steady progress of U.S.-Japan collaboration in space.
The greetings continued with a letter from Senator John Cornyn and a video message from the Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Brian Babin, stressing the importance of U.S.-Japan space cooperation and expressing their hopes for its continued development.
To end the greetings, Ms. Donna Shafer delivered remarks and introduced NASA projects on behalf of NASA. Next, astronauts Ms. Ayers and Mr. Onishi delivered a joint keynote speech. The main presentations followed, with six U.S. and Japanese space-related companies introducing overviews of their activities before coming together for a panel discussion moderated by Rice Space Institute Director Dr. David Alexander. Afterwards, a networking reception was held for space industry and academic participants from both countries.
The Consulate-General of Japan in Houston will continue to promote and strengthen U.S.-Japan cooperation in the space sector.