Today the BBC reported a signing of “letters of intent” between the European Space Agency (ESA) and US. One of the main aims behind the agreement is to work towards getting soil and rock samples back from Mars in our search for life. We should expect to see joint missions to Mars with the ESA sending an orbiter, with surface rovers to follow. This is now the Mars Joint Exploration Initiative (Meji), which we will hopefully hear more of in the future.

Without doubt there is a financial imperative and sharing the large financial cost in sending out missions just makes sense. The fact that this is only  happening now probably speaks volumes for the complexity of international agreements of this magnitude, with the ESA to contribute in the region of 1Billion Euro if all goes well.  There have been examples of joint missions so this is not a first. The ISS is an obvious example. While there may be pride in getting there “first”, most missions only retain data for a while and ultimately release it internationally to the scientific community. The amount of data being generated by missions is staggering, so even if a country gets to hold its data to write their papers first, there is still lots more to find once the data  is made public. Japan, in its recent Moon missions has opted to hold its data to allow Japanese scientists to take advantage of the data and publish first. Fair enough since they are responsible for the mission. The SELENE mission was launched on September 14th, 2007 from Tanegashima. Open to the international community, this data now results in high-definition maps includes topological data and mineral locations. Critically, the locations of uranium, thorium and potassium have been mapped, essential for mission planners when considering the future of manned settlements on the Moon. There may be a lot to be gained from building and succeeding in a Space programme, however could this have been achieved at a cheaper cost?

From a strategic point of view, joint ventures may have a lot more to offer.  We need to raise the bar internationally on space based technology and include more countries into the mix. We want to drive down the costs and increase the rate of missions. Competition will do this, but strategic alliances can help to accelerate the process.  This is how most industries evolve and to think one country can go it alone is what I hope is a dogma best left to the last century. I’d hope that Meji is a first step in more productive mission sharing across the globe.  Russia/China/Europe/US/Japan may be main contributors now, but maybe others will follow.  I do agree that multiple development lines of a technology are required (click here for details on the heavy lifter rockets in service or planned), but while some of the technologies are shared  (the US Atlas V using Russian RD-180) we could do more.  Lets hope this new signing of intent leads to further joint mission developments. The ESA ExoMars Rover should become a reality.

ESA EXOMars Rover

Regarding the recent signing of intent, here is the proposed time-line of missions

• 2016: A European-led orbiter to study trace gases, including methane, in Mars’ atmosphere. The mission would also put a static meteorological station on the surface. Critically, 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 US would do the EDL.
• 2020: “Under consideration” is a network of landers focused on geophysics and the environment.