The European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency have signed a deal to work together on planetary defense, including a joint mission to the asteroid Apophis. The agreements were signed in Berlin, Germany, on May 7 at the Embassy of Italy, with the Italian Space Agency hosting the event. ESA selected OHB Italia as the prime contractor for the Ramses mission.
Two agencies, one asteroid, a shared sense of urgency
From a joint statement to a concrete mission
The Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety, or Ramses, will target the near-Earth asteroid Apophis. The two agencies signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to deepen their overall planetary defense collaboration, plus a dedicated agreement specifically for Ramses. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa signed the documents. The move follows a joint statement from November 2024 in which both agencies committed to expanding large-scale cooperation, including on planetary defense.
Why planetary defense matters locally and globally
Planetary defense is a challenge that affects every human and living being on Earth. It brings together the international community to detect and characterize near-Earth objects early, track their trajectories, assess impact risks, and develop mitigation strategies if needed. ESA plays a leading role through its Space Safety program. The agency's Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre monitors asteroid threats and refines orbit predictions, while its space missions oversee rapid reconnaissance and deflection technologies. ESA's Hera mission, on which JAXA is an important partner, will arrive later this year at the Didymos binary asteroid system.
Aschbacher said planetary defense is a global responsibility. With the signatures, ESA and JAXA are moving from shared intention to concrete implementation, translating commitment into mission-level cooperation. Yamakawa said the cooperation will further advance international efforts in this field.
The agreements signal a shift from planning to action between two of the world's major space agencies. The Ramses mission to Apophis now has a formal framework for joint work, with both sides committing resources and expertise to a shared goal.
