International Collaboration

The MMX mission has international partners in Europe and the USA, who are providing wide-ranging cooperation, including the development of onboard instruments. These incredible contributions make MMX the largest joint international lunar and planetary exploration mission to be led by Japan. Together, we are committed to making our journey to the Martian moons the best possible scientific and engineering success!

NASA(USA)

・Gamma-ray and Neutron Spectrometer(MEGANE)[→ website]
・Pneumatic collection mechanism(P-Sampler)
・Ground station support (including control, mission data receiving)

ESA(Europe)

・Deep space communication equipment(Ka band)
・Ground station support(control, mission data receiving)

CNES(France)

・Infrared Spectrometer(MIRS)
・MMX Rover(in collaboration with DLR)
・Proximity operation support

DLR(Germany)

・MMX Rover(in collaboration with CNES)
・Test equipment(Drop tower、micro-gravity simulation)


※ In addition, each organisation also supports the activities of participating scientists.

History

2023.06.21 JAXA-DLR-CNES sign the trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) for the MMX rover.

At the Paris Air Show on June 20, 2023, JAXA President Yamakawa Hiroshi, Chair of the DLR Executive Board Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, DLR Executive Board Member and Director General of the German Space Agency Walther Pelzer, and CNES CEO Philippe Baptiste signed a trilateral Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) concerning cooperative activities for the rover within the MMX mission. Read more [here].

2022.10.24 Australia-Japan leaders support in principal the landing of the MMX capsule in Australia.

At the Japan-Australia bilateral meeting in Perth on October 22, 2022, support in principal was confirmed for landing the sample return capsule from the Martian Moons eXploration mission in Australia. The joint statement can be read [here].

2017.4.10 2017.4.10 Signing ceremony with French Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES)

To formalize the Japanese-French cooperation that has been conducted at the engineer/scientist level, an implementation agreement with the French National Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES) on the study of the Martian Moons eXploration plan (MMX) and its signing ceremony was conducted on April 10.

2017.5.11-12 2017.5.11-12 Tutorial meeting on planet protection at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science

A study group was held at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, with lecturers from Europe and the United States as members of the Planetary Protection of the Outer Solar System Project (PPOSS). Many Japanese researchers, students, companies, and JAXA employees also participated in the study group.

2017.5.20-24 Panel Discussion at JpGU

Panel discussion meeting was held at the Japan Earth and Planetary Science Association (JpGU) and attended by leaders in the Japanese and US small celestial exploration plan. Discussion focussed on the theme of planetary science and the celestial body exploration.

2017.5 Near-infrared spectrometer (MacrOmega) team CNES visit

Discussions between the French team, including Professor Bibring, and the Near-infrared spectrometer (MacrOmega) Japanese team. These meetings are key to establishing the relationship of trust and understanding with the Japanese-French MacrOmega team needed to design space instruments.

2017.8.16-17 Sampler team HoneyBee Robotics (HBR) visit

About one year since initial discussions in 2016, the MMX sampler team and California-based HBR have conducted joint research studies for the MMX sampler. In this visit, the method of mounting the sampler on the spacecraft was discussed at this face-to-face meeting.

2017.9.6 "Talk with globally recognized scientists; JAXA's New Exploration Plan - Martian Moons eXploration Plan (MMX)" at TeNQ

"Why we are aiming for the Martian moon?” talk event was held with invited international researchers from the United States, France, and Germany, and the general public.

2017.10.30 MMX joint review with CNES

The MMX Japan team visited France and exchanged various opinions including discussions on cooperation scheme. This further stengthened the relationship between France and Japan.

2017.11.17 NASA selected Mars-moon Exploration with Gamma rays and Neutrons (MEGANE) team

The MMX observation equipment GRNS provided by NASA was named “MEGANE”. It was decided that MEGANE would jointly be developed by Japanese and the United States scientists and engineers.