Japan’s MMX spacecraft has launched on an H3 rocket and separated successfully, beginning a mission to investigate Mars’s moons and return samples from Phobos. The immediate milestone is a completed launch. Arrival at Mars, surface sampling and the return capsule’s journey to Earth remain later stages in the mission plan.
Japan’s Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft, MMX, has begun its journey aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center. Japan’s space agency JAXA confirmed that the rocket flew as planned and the spacecraft separated successfully. The launch marks the start of a mission to investigate Mars’s two moons, Phobos and Deimos. JAXA dated its announcement October 20, the local date in Japan.[1], [2]
The mission timetable places arrival at Mars in August 2027, followed by approximately 3 years of operations around the planet. MMX is designed to touch down on Phobos twice and collect about 10 grams of material. The French and German IDEFIX rover, a small vehicle for examining surface conditions, is scheduled for deployment in late 2028 or early 2029.[1]
Researchers are comparing two explanations for the moons: captured asteroids, or debris assembled after a large impact on Mars. Surface material brought to Earth is intended to help distinguish them through its composition. Departure from the Mars system is scheduled for November 2030, with the return capsule reaching Australia in 2031. Sampling and return remain future stages following the completed launch.[1]
