Mars Exploration Joint Initiative
Encyclopedia
The Mars Exploration Joint Initiative (MEJI) is an agreement signed between United states' space agency, NASA
, and Europe's space agency, ESA to join resources and expertise in order to continue the exploration of the planet Mars
. The agreement was signed in Washington D.C. in October 2009.
mission and to prepare further Mars robotic exploration missions
. At the same time, NASA was reassessing its Mars Exploration Program portfolio after the launch of its Mars Science Laboratory
was delayed from 2009 to 2011. This provided NASA and ESA with an opportunity to increase cooperation and expand collective capabilities. The U.S. and Europe have taken the view that they can achieve more together scientifically at Mars if they combine their expertise. And with both parties' current Mars programmes also experiencing financial pressures, the shared approach means the exploration schedule of a mission every two years can be maintained.
The executive board recommended NASA and ESA establish MEJI, spanning launch opportunities in 2016, 2018 and 2020, with landers and orbiters conducting astrobiological
, geological, geophysical and other high-priority investigations, and leading to the return of soil and rock samples from Mars in the 2020's.
As plans develop, they will be reviewed by ESA member states for approval and by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, and Europe's space agency, ESA to join resources and expertise in order to continue the exploration of the planet Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. The agreement was signed in Washington D.C. in October 2009.
Background
Discussions between NASA and ESA began in December 2008, driven by the ESA Ministerial Council's recommendation to seek international cooperation to complete the ExoMarsExoMars
ExoMars is a European-led robotic mission to Mars currently under development by the European Space Agency with collaboration by NASA...
mission and to prepare further Mars robotic exploration missions
Exploration of Mars
The exploration of Mars has been an important part of the space exploration programs of the Soviet Union, the United States, Europe, and Japan. Dozens of robotic spacecraft, including orbiters, landers, and rovers, have been launched toward Mars since the 1960s...
. At the same time, NASA was reassessing its Mars Exploration Program portfolio after the launch of its Mars Science Laboratory
Mars Science Laboratory
The Mars Science Laboratory is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission with the aim to land and operate a rover named Curiosity on the surface of Mars. The MSL was launched November 26, 2011, at 10:02 EST and is scheduled to land on Mars at Gale Crater between August 6 and 20, 2012...
was delayed from 2009 to 2011. This provided NASA and ESA with an opportunity to increase cooperation and expand collective capabilities. The U.S. and Europe have taken the view that they can achieve more together scientifically at Mars if they combine their expertise. And with both parties' current Mars programmes also experiencing financial pressures, the shared approach means the exploration schedule of a mission every two years can be maintained.
The executive board recommended NASA and ESA establish MEJI, spanning launch opportunities in 2016, 2018 and 2020, with landers and orbiters conducting astrobiological
Astrobiology
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. This interdisciplinary field encompasses the search for habitable environments in our Solar System and habitable planets outside our Solar System, the search for evidence of prebiotic chemistry,...
, geological, geophysical and other high-priority investigations, and leading to the return of soil and rock samples from Mars in the 2020's.
Missions
The MEJI vision would encompass the following launch opportunities:- 2016: A European-led orbiterOrbiterAn orbiter is a space probe that orbits a planet.-Asteroids:*NEAR Shoemaker...
to study trace gases, including methane in Mars' atmosphere (see: Mars Trace Gas Mission). The mission would also put a static meteorological station on the surface. Europe would handle the entry, descent and landing (EDL) of this station - a capability it has yet to demonstrate. - 2018: European and American rovers would be dispatched to Mars. The U.S. would do the entry, descent and landing system (see: ExoMarsExoMarsExoMars is a European-led robotic mission to Mars currently under development by the European Space Agency with collaboration by NASA...
and Mars Astrobiology Explorer-CacherMars Astrobiology Explorer-CacherThe Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher was a NASA concept for a Mars rover mission, proposed to be launched in 2018 together with the European ExoMars rover...
). - 2020: Under consideration is a network of very small landersLander (spacecraft)A lander is a spacecraft which descends toward and comes to rest on the surface of an astronomical body. For bodies with atmospheres, the landing is called atmospheric reentry and the lander descends as a re-entry vehicle...
focused on geophysicsGeophysicsGeophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
and the environmentNatural environmentThe natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
. - NASA will provide Atlas VAtlas VAtlas V is an active expendable launch system in the Atlas rocket family. Atlas V was formerly operated by Lockheed Martin, and is now operated by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance...
launch rockets in 2016 and 2018. - The ultimate aim is a mission to return Mars rock and soils to Earth, the Mars sample return missionMars Sample Return MissionA Mars sample return mission would be a spaceflight mission to collect rock and dust samples from Mars and to return them to Earth for analysis...
, some time in the 2020's.
As plans develop, they will be reviewed by ESA member states for approval and by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
.