JAXA to launch MMX mission to collect samples from Martian moon Phobos

JAXA MMX mission Phobos sample return H3 rocket Mars exploration

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has announced the launch schedule for its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. The spacecraft is slated to launch on October 20, 2026, at 4:41 a.m. JST from the Tanegashima Space Center using an H3 rocket.

The mission aims to land on Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, to collect at least 10 grams of surface material. A French-German rover named IDEFIX will be deployed to perform in situ observations on the moon's surface. The mission will also conduct remote observations of the smaller moon, Deimos.

Following the exploration phase, which is expected to last approximately three years in the Martian system, a return capsule will transport the collected samples back to Earth. The sample return is currently scheduled for 2031, with a target landing site in Australia.

Entities

Deimos · Idefix · JAXA · Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency · Mars · NASA · Phobos · Tanegashima Space Center

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] The spacecraft will be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center using an H3 rocket. japonsamourai.fr · in.mashable.com · www.space.com · olhardigital.com.br
[● 4 SOURCES] JAXA will launch the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft on October 20, 2026, at 4:41 a.m. JST. japonsamourai.fr · in.mashable.com · www.space.com · olhardigital.com.br
[● 3 SOURCES] The spacecraft will arrive in the Martian system approximately one year after launch. japonsamourai.fr · in.mashable.com · www.space.com
[● 4 SOURCES] The sample return is scheduled for 2031, with the capsule expected to land in Australia. japonsamourai.fr · www.generation-nt.com · in.mashable.com · olhardigital.com.br
[● 4 SOURCES] The mission includes a French-German rover named IDEFIX to perform surface observations on Phobos. japonsamourai.fr · in.mashable.com · www.space.com · olhardigital.com.br
[● 4 SOURCES] The MMX mission aims to collect at least 10 grams of material from the Martian moon Phobos. japonsamourai.fr · www.generation-nt.com · in.mashable.com · olhardigital.com.br
[● 3 SOURCES] The mission will perform remote observations of the Martian moon Deimos. in.mashable.com · olhardigital.com.br · www.space.com

Sources

Le Japon va lancer une sonde sur la première mission mondiale d'échantillonnage de la lune martienne - Japon Samouraï [japonsamourai.fr]

1 day ago

Le Japon part à la conquête des lunes martiennes pour comprendre nos origines [www.generation-nt.com]

about 10 hours ago

JAXA's MMX To Bring Samples From Phobos; Know More About Japanese Mars Mission [in.mashable.com]

about 5 hours ago

Japão define data de missão para buscar amostras de uma lua de Marte [olhardigital.com.br]

2 days ago

Japan unveils Mars moon sample-return spacecraft ahead of Oct. 19 launch (photos) [www.space.com]

1 day ago