Statement of Intent for Potential Joint Robotic Exploration of Mars 5 November 2009

Building on a long history of mutually beneficial cooperation in space science, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have expressed an interest in continuing henceforth jointly their robotic exploration of Mars. Accordingly, NASA and ESA agree to consider the establishment ofa new joint initiative to define and implement their scientific, programmatic, and technological goals for the exploration ofMars. Initially focusing on 2016 and 2018, this initiative would span several launch opportunities with landers and orbiters conducting astrobiological, geological, geophysical, climatological, and other high-priority investigations and aiming at returning samples from Mars in the mid-2020s.

The envisioned mission scenario includes the provision by ESA in 2016 of an Entry, Descent, and semi-soft Landing System (EDLS) technology demonstrator and a science/relay orbiter and, in 2018 the ExoMars rover equipped with drilling capability. NASA’s contribution in 2016 includes a trace gas mapping and imaging scientific payload for the orbiter and the launch and, in 2018 a rover, the EDLS, and the launch.

On the basis of the cooperation described above, the ESA Director General and the NASA Administrator hereby request that the ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration and the NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate continue their technical analysis and pursue a more detailed definition of respective responsibilities. NASA and ESA will establish legally binding agreements, as soon as feasible, to cover specific activities of this initiative, as needed. ~~ ~.

[signed]

Charles F. Bolden, Jr. Administrator National Aeronautics and Space Administration

[signed]

Jean-Jacques Dorain Director General European Space Agency