Full Breakdown
ESA and JAXA Formalize Collaboration on Ramses Mission to Study Asteroid Apophis
5/11/2026, 1:52:53 AM
Formal Agreement Marks a New Phase in Apophis Exploration
On 7 May, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa signed a cooperation agreement in Berlin for the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses). JAXA will supply solar arrays, a thermal-infrared imager, and launch the spacecraft on an H3 rocket in April 2028. Ramses will fly past asteroid Apophis in February 2029, two months before the asteroid’s close Earth approach.
Background and Context
ESA and JAXA announced a joint intent in November 2024 and secured funding at ESA’s November 2025 ministerial council. The agreement follows growing international interest in Apophis, which will pass within 32 000 km of Earth in 2029. NASA plans the OSIRIS-APEX mission to arrive after the flyby; its FY2027 budget initially omitted funding, but Congress later restored it. China has proposed the CROWN/Apophis concept with two probes, while ExLabs and Australia’s HEO have floated commercial flyby ideas.
Key Agencies, Contractors, and Contributors
- ESA – mission lead and coordination.
- JAXA – provides solar arrays, thermal-infrared imager, and H3 launch services.
- OHB Italia – prime contractor for spacecraft integration.
- Italy – noted as a supportive ESA member state.
Timeline of Milestones
ESA and JAXA announced collaboration in November 2024, formalized adoption at ESA’s November 2025 ministerial council, signed the cooperation agreement on 7 May 2026 in Berlin, plan an April 2028 launch on an H3 rocket, and target a February 2029 encounter with Apophis.
Mission Data and Technical Details
Ramses will carry JAXA-provided solar arrays for power and a thermal-infrared imager to map surface temperatures. Built by OHB Italia, the spacecraft will launch on a Japanese H3 rocket, aiming for a February 2029 flyby to study gravitational effects on the asteroid’s surface.
Significance for Planetary Defense
The 2029 flyby offers a rare chance to observe how Earth’s gravity reshapes a near-Earth asteroid, yielding data to refine impact-risk models, test surface-alteration predictions, and support planetary-defense research.
Official Statements & Responses
ESA’s Aschbacher said the signatures move the partnership from intent to concrete implementation, underscoring a commitment to mission-level cooperation. JAXA’s Yamakawa expressed gratitude to ESA and its members, noting the collaboration will advance international asteroid-science and safety efforts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “With today’s signatures, ESA and JAXA are moving decisively from shared intention to concrete implementation, translating commitment into mission-level cooperation,” — Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General
- “We sincerely appreciate ESA and its member states, including Italy, and expect this cooperation to further advance international efforts in this field,” — Hiroshi Yamakawa, JAXA President
What’s Next
Ramses is scheduled for an April 2028 launch. After its February 2029 flyby, NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX will approach the asteroid, benefiting from restored congressional funding. China’s CROWN/Apophis remains a concept, while ExLabs and HEO continue developing commercial flyby proposals, indicating strong international interest in the 2029 encounter.
