The Japanese government will expand its space program to include future missions to Mars.

The Japanese government will expand its space program to include future missions to Mars. Photo: NASA

Tokyo: The Japanese government has set its sights on Mars as part of a space exploration program than also includes moon settlement.

The science and technology ministry will pursue manned Japanese exploration of Mars through international cooperation as part of the nation's space program, ministry sources said.

It is the first time the government has incorporated Martian exploration into the country's space program.

The plan was submitted to a panel of experts run by the ministry to discuss space program-related issues, including international space exploration following the end of the International Space Station (ISS) operation.

It will be finalised as early as next month and reported to the government's Committee on the National Space Policy.

According to the ministry draft, the government will gradually advance the plan, which includes unmanned exploration and long-term settlement on the moon.

Participating nations would share the massive financial costs and technological development efforts required for manned missions to Mars.

The outline also notes the necessity of exploiting the experience and technology gained through the ISS project to efficiently develop technology for long-term space living.

The significance of manned Mars exploration lies in its potential to boost Japan's industrial competitiveness and proficiency in science and technology, according to the draft.

Conducting manned explorations of Mars was also discussed during the International Space Exploration Forum, a meeting Cabinet-level officials held in January in Washington, at which participants tentatively set a target in the late 2030s.

The United States has also been working on the completion of Orion, a next-generation spacescraft, in a similar timeframe