Australia and Japan have 45 years of treaty level science cooperation, and our work with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is an important component of this. 

Last month, a delegation led by the Australian Space Agency showcased the momentum between the two space economies and the growing opportunities for their businesses, researchers, and innovators.

With the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the Agency-led delegation was able to build stronger connections between Australian and Japanese space companies that will boost our collective commercial space interests.

The Agency’s relationship with JAXA remains strong and will open further collaborations in areas such as space science and on JAXA’s Martian Moon sample return mission.

Thanks to our partners at Austrade and the Australian Embassy in Japan, the Australian space trade delegation had deep access and connection during their visit. On the networking day of the trip, a 112 business-to-business meetings were held. 

I have seen our partners reinforce to me their enthusiasm to collaborate with Australia and our region.

~ Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency

The Agency's visit to Japan included trips to:

  • Osaka World Expo 2025
  • JAXA’s flagship Tsukuba Space Centre and Sagamihara Campus
  • JAXA's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
  • The Australian Embassy in Tokyo where the delegation met Australia’s Head of Mission to Japan, HE Justin Hayhurst
  • An Osaka High School to inspire the next generation of STEM and space workforce. 

Aussie space on show at World Expo 2025 

World Expo is one of the oldest and largest international events, held every five years since 1851. It is a global platform for achievement, innovation, collaboration, and cooperation.

Australia is participating in the event's latest edition in Osaka, which will run until 13 October 2025 and attract more than 28 million visitors. The Government’s custom-built pavilion has already given thousands of visitors an immersive Australian experience. 

In May, the hub showcased our national strengths in health and science along with space, which was a prominent feature in the pavilion's design and programming.

Through a series of engagements and events, the Agency along with other visiting delegations from Questacon, CSIRO and Australia’s Chief Scientist showcased our nation's expertise in space, science communications, research, robotics and AI technologies.

Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg was also in Japan — sharing Australia’s space story with thousands of visitors at World Expo, and highlighted Australia's future ambitions to explore further.

  • Space cooperation formalised through signing of Memorandum of Understanding in July 2020.
  • Partnered with JAXA on its Hayabusa2 Return mission. The Agency led a whole-of-government approach to successfully retrieve an asteroid sample that landed in South Australia’s Woomera Prohibited Area in 2020.
  • The Agency formalised a partnership with JAXA on its Martian Moon eXploration (MMX) mission in 2023, which will see samples from the Martian moon, Phobos, land in South Australia by approximately 2031.
  • Co-hosted the Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum with JAXA in Perth in November 2024.
First Nations' Artwork ‘Maal’ [One: Gomeroi], by Jake Duczynski, Gomeroi Man

NEWS • Australian Space Agency

13 May 2025

Australia's unique cultural perspective on space is presented to the world.

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Highlights from the delegation visit

Please click on the images to read their descriptions. 

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(L-R) President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa, along with Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, at the Australia Pavilion in Osaka.

An exhibition room

The visitor experience at the Australian Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka.

an exhibition space

The Agency's participation at World Expo 2025 forms part of the broader Australian Pavilion theme “Chasing the Sun,” which showcases national strengths across space, health, science, the arts, and clean energy. 

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(L-R) Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg; Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo; President of JAXA, Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa at the Tsukuba Space Centre.

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(L-R) Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, and Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, and JAXA representatives in front of the Japanese Experiment Module "Kibo" of the International Space Station at the Tsukuba Space Centre.

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(L-R) Australian astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg; Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo and President of JAXA, Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa.

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(L-R) Australian astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, and Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, along with a team member from JAXA's Hayabusa2 mission look at a replica mission's spacecraft at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science. 

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(L-R) Australian astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, and Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, along with team members from JAXA's Hayabusa2 mission at the Tsukuba Space Centre.

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President of JAXA, Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa, along with the Australian delegation touring the Tsukuba Space Centre.

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Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science.

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(L-R) Australian astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, along with Director General of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Dr Masaki Fujimoto. 

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(L-R) Australian astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg, and Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, along with team members from the Martian Moon eXploration Mission (MMX).

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A group photo of the Agency's delegation along with staff at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Sciences. 

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(L-R): Australia's Chief Scientist, Professor Tony Haymet; JAXA astronaut Norishige Kanai; President of JAXA, Dr Hiroshi Yamakawa; Australia's Head of Mission to Japan, HE Justin Hayhurst; Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo; Australian Astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg; Counsellor (Industry, Science and Resources) for Japan, Dan Glover. 

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Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg made six presentations on the Australian Pavilion forecourt stage to showcase Australia and the critical role of space technology in protecting our planet and making it a more sustainable place.

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Over 200 school students from Osaka Prefectural Suito Kokusai Junior and Senior High School got to meet our Australian astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg. 

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At the Osaka Prefectural Suito Kokusai Junior and Senior High School, Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg told her story about pursuing her dream and gave the students a fascinating view into what it’s like to train as an astronaut. 

From feeling the G-forces in the centrifuge, to practicing space walks under water, Katherine's presentation captured the mind of each student. 

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Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg with students from Osaka Prefectural Suito Kokusai Junior and Senior High School.

A ground station

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