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About

Juliane Skibbe is a robotics and space systems engineer whose research focuses on the development and qualification of rover locomotion systems for planetary exploration, with a particular emphasis on low-gravity environments. She has made significant contributions to the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission — a landmark collaboration between JAXA, CNES, and DLR — which aims to unravel the origins of Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos through robotic surface exploration and sample return. Skibbe's work addresses one of the most technically challenging frontiers in planetary robotics: designing wheeled locomotion systems that can function reliably in gravitational conditions approximately two thousand times weaker than Earth's, a regime where rovers have never previously operated. Her research spans the full engineering lifecycle, from early locomotion system development and control function design to rigorous qualification testing, ensuring mission readiness for Phobos operations expected in 2026. Her three most-cited publications, accumulating nearly 40 citations collectively, document this progression and represent foundational references for the planetary robotics community. Skibbe's work stands at the intersection of mechanical engineering, control systems, and space exploration, pushing the boundaries of where humanity can send robotic explorers.