IDEFIX is scheduled to land on the Martian moon Phobos as part of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission and explore it by driving across its surface – despite the moon's extremely low gravity. The Japanese MMX mission targets both Martian moons Phobos and Deimos. The MMX spacecraft will explore both bodies and ultimately return samples from Phobos to Earth.
DLR's 'Scout' rover, developed for planetary exploration and operations in hard-to-reach areas on Earth, was also driven during the demonstration. For this the rover needs to be extremely agile and robust, as well as tolerant of motor failures or mechanical faults. Scout can even drive upside down and survive falls from more than 1.5 metres.
Japan's Minister for Space Policy Minoru Kiuchi has visited DLR in Oberpfaffenhofen to learn about core research areas and missions.
Key topics included joint space research, Earth observation, disaster management and robotics – including the Martian moons mission MMX.
New agreements reinforce German-Japanese cooperation, such as through expanded projects with Japan's AIST research facility in the field of quantum computing.
Focus: International relations, space
On 27 June 2025, Japan's Minister of State in the Cabinet Office for Science and Technology Policy as well as and for Space Policy, visited the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen. His delegation was welcomed by DLR Executive Board Chair Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla and Anke Pagels-Kerp, DLR Divisional Board Member for Space.
Delving into DLR's research
During a guided tour, guests were briefed on the site's wide-ranging research topics. The Institute of Atmospheric Physics, which is closely involved in the current Earth observation mission EarthCARE, provided a first impression of the close relationship between DLR and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). During a tour of the German Space Operations Center (GSOC), the delegation got an insight into the operation of other satellite missions, the Columbus module of the International Space Station ISS and the European Proximity Operations Simulator facility (EPOS). At the Center for Satellite-Based Crisis Information, the delegation also learned about knowledge exchange and disaster management. The tour concluded at the Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, where special emphasis was placed on the Japanese-European Martian Moons eXploration mission (MMX), scheduled to launch in 2026.
Closer cooperation with Japan
Declaration of Intent between DLR and AIST expanded
DLR and AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) are expanding their diverse collaboration to include quantum technologies. The Japanese research institution will contribute its new research hub, G-QuAT (Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology). From left: Anke Pagels-Kerp, DLR Divisional Board Member for Space; Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, Chair of the DLR Executive Board; Kazuya Masu, Director of G-QuAT; and Minoru Kiuchi, Japanese Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy and for Space Policy.
Minister Kiuchi and the delegates expressed their enthusiasm for the research topics and opportunities at DLR. Japan is an important DLR partner in space, as well as in the research fields of aeronautics, energy and transport. Since 2017, DLR has collaborated closely with Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) research facility, particularly on materials development. Even closer cooperation is planned, as was confirmed in Oberpfaffenhofen. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla and Kazuya Masu, Director of the Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology (G-QuAT) signed an expanded letter of intent, which now also includes joint research projects in the field of quantum computing. G-QuAT is a new AIST research hub focused on the development of advanced hybrid quantum-computing technologies combined with artificial intelligence.
The importance of cooperation with Japan in research and space was already underscored in the preceding days, as Minister of State Kiuchi and German Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, Dorothee Bär, signed two agreements to develop new collaborations in science and research aimed at advancing new joint innovations. Prior to Minister Kiuchi's visit, a delegation representing the German Federal President, including Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, visited Japan. With the visit to Oberpfaffenhofen and the updated agreements, Japan and DLR have further consolidated their research partnership.
