NEWS

Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS) conducted an astronaut training–inspired workshop on January 21, 2026, in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, for 24 students and faculty members from Taiwan, as part of a Space Business Study Tour organized by JTB Corp.

The workshop provided participants with a hands-on opportunity to experience the team-based decision-making and collaboration skills essential to human spaceflight, and was delivered entirely in English to reflect the realities of international space missions.

Workshop participants and JAMSS staff (Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan)

Experiential Learning Inspired by the Artemis Program

The workshop was developed against the backdrop of the renewed global momentum toward crewed lunar exploration under the Artemis program.  
Within a simulated environment modeled on future international lunar missions, participants were challenged to think critically, communicate effectively, and make decisions as a team—skills that are indispensable in real human spaceflight operations.

Through this experiential format, participants gained first-hand insight into the non-technical competencies, such as teamwork and judgment under constraints, that support successful space missions.

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Practical Learning Through the Lunar Exploration Board Game

At the core of the workshop was “Moon Quest Challenge,” an original experiential board game developed by JAMSS.

In the game, participants assume the roles of astronauts assigned to a lunar exploration team. Working under strict limitations on time, resources and information, teams must repeatedly make decisions and coordinate actions to accomplish their mission objectives.

The game is based on practical decision-making frameworks refined through JAMSS’s experience in astronaut training and operation of the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the International Space Station. Rather than offering predefined correct answers, the program encourages participants to confront ambiguity and develop solutions collaboratively—mirroring real-world space operations.

JAMSS professionals with hands-on operational experience served as facilitators, guiding participants to connect their in-game decisions with the realities of human spaceflight and international cooperation.

 Workshop highlights

High Satisfaction and Strong Educational Impact

A post-workshop survey (23 respondents) indicated 100% overall satisfaction.

Approximately 60% of participants described the workshop as “challenging but highly educational.”
Key themes highlighted by participants included:
- The critical importance of teamwork  
- The difficulty and value of information sharing and consensus-building  
- A strong sense of immersion comparable to real space missions  

These responses demonstrate the program’s effectiveness in combining engagement, challenge, and meaningful learning.

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Comment from National Central University, Taiwan

Professor Loren Chang, Distinguished Professor at National Central University (Taoyuan City, Taiwan) and organizer of the study tour, commented:

“It was a very unique and fresh perspective for us, since most space related programs in Taiwan are focused more on the technical aspects and less the teamwork aspects, which are no less important. We may utilize the lessons learned for our own student teams.”

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JAMSS Staff Comments

Haruki Momose
Space Utilization Services Group, Space Systems Development Unit, JAMSS
“It was impressive to see participants experientially learning the ways of thinking cultivated by JAMSS through real astronaut training and space mission operations.
As a STEAM education program grounded in real-world space activities, it is one we strongly encourage many students to experience.”

So Uezu
Mission Operations Group, Mission Operations & Crew Unit, JAMSS
“The students adapted quickly and worked very effectively together. I believe this workshop helped everyone understand how important it is to have clear roles within the team and to select information carefully in order to achieve shared goals, which is also essential for the missions on the Kibo.”

Mina Hashizume
Training and Crew Support Group, Mission Operations & Crew Unit, JAMSS
“It was impressive that the participants were able to understand the game rules explained in English, rather than in their native language, and that many teams reached the goal after lively discussions. We believe they realized the importance of teamwork in space missions and hope they will apply this experience to their future careers.”

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About the Space Business Study Tour

The Space Business Study Tour was the highlight of the Taiwan-Japan Space Education Exchange Delegation organized by National Central University and Taiwan Accelerator Plus (TAcc+) of the Industrial Technology Research Institute with the objective of deepening understanding of practical space activities and collaboration between Taiwan and Japan.  
Leveraging JTB’s network, including its presence in Taiwan, the program was designed as a special, immersive opportunity for participants to visit and experience Japan’s space development ecosystem firsthand, while also highlighting bilateral collaborations and offering networking opportunities for space professionals and enthusiasts.

The astronaut training–inspired workshop provided by JAMSS served as the introductory program of the tour, equipping participants with a shared understanding of the teamwork and decision-making skills required in international space projects.



Looking Ahead

JAMSS will continue to build on the practical expertise gained through its involvement in human spaceflight and international space programs, working in collaboration with academia, industry, government, and overseas partners.

Through the development and enhancement of experiential, globally oriented space human resource development programs, JAMSS aims to contribute to the sustainable advancement of future lunar exploration and human space activities in low Earth orbit, and to the long-term growth of the space sector.