# JAXA MMX Martian moon exploration mission > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/jaxa-mmx-martian-moon-exploration-mission > Updated: 2026-10-24T11:15:00.000Z. Sources: 244. Developments: 6. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is preparing the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, an international collaboration involving NASA, ESA, CNES, DLR, and INTA. The mission aims to resolve scientific debates regarding whether the Martian moons, Phobos and Deimos, formed from impact debris or were captured asteroids. On October 20, 2026, JAXA successfully launched the MMX mission via an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center. Following a successful separation from the launch vehicle, the 4,480-kilogram unmanned probe began its journey toward the Mars system. Approximately 68 percent of the spacecraft's total weight consists of propellant to facilitate the complex landing and return maneuvers required by the low gravity of Phobos. The mission is expected to reach Mars around August 2027. To support the arrival period, the European Space Agency (ESA) is expected to utilize its Mars Express probe to assist with joint observations and imaging of the landing site. Upon arrival, the mission will deploy the Idefix rover, a joint development by DLR and CNES. The approximately 25-kilogram rover is scheduled to land on Phobos in 2029 to spend roughly 100 days examining the surface and identifying a safe landing site. Due to the extremely low gravity on Phobos, mission leaders have described the landing and driving operations as ‘absolute robotic new territory’. The spacecraft will then orbit Phobos for approximately three years to collect at least ten grams of surface material using a dual sampling mechanism that combines a Japanese mechanical corer with a NASA pneumatic sampler. The spacecraft will also observe the Martian moon Deimos before returning to Earth. If successful, the collected samples are expected to return to Earth via Australia in 2031 for laboratory analysis. ## Claims - The MMX spacecraft is scheduled to launch on October 20, 2026. (disputed by 37 sources) - The MMX spacecraft launched on October 20, 2026, aboard an H3 rocket. (disputed by 3 sources) - JAXA is launching a spacecraft to bring back samples from Phobos. (corroborated by 52 sources) - The mission aims to collect at least 10 grams of material from the surface of Phobos. (corroborated by 44 sources) - The spacecraft is expected to reach Mars in 2027. (corroborated by 43 sources) - The mission includes equipment and communications support from NASA and other agencies. (corroborated by 38 sources) - A German-French rover named Idefix will be deployed to Phobos to scout the surface. (corroborated by 35 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-24: JAXA launches MMX mission to collect samples from Phobos JAXA launched the MMX spacecraft via an H3 rocket to Phobos. The mission aims to return Martian moon samples to Earth by 2031 to study the solar system's history. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-launches-mmx-mission-to-return-samples-from-martian-moon-phobos ### 2026-10-22: Japan launches Martian Moons eXploration mission to Phobos Japan's JAXA has launched the MMX mission to Phobos. The spacecraft aims to collect Martian moon samples for a planned return to Earth in 2031, supported by ESA's Mars Express probe. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-launches-martian-moons-exploration-mission-to-phobos ### 2026-10-20: JAXA launches MMX mission to collect Martian moon samples JAXA has launched the MMX mission via an H3 rocket to collect samples from Mars' moon Phobos, aiming to return material to Earth by 2031 to study the solar system's origins. 89 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jaxa-launches-mmx-mission-to-retrieve-samples-from-mars-moon-phobos ### 2026-10-18: JAXA launches MMX mission to collect samples from Mars moon Phobos JAXA has launched the MMX mission via an H3 rocket to explore Mars' moons. The mission aims to land a rover on Phobos and return at least 10 grams of samples to Earth by 2031. 140 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jaxa-to-launch-first-mission-to-collect-samples-from-martian-moon-phobos ### 2026-10-15: JAXA MMX mission to collect Phobos samples for return to Earth JAXA’s MMX mission will launch in October 2026 to collect soil samples from Mars’ moon Phobos. The international mission aims to determine the moons' origins and return samples to Earth by 2031. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-to-launch-mmx-mission-to-explore-martian-moons ### 2026-10-13: JAXA MMX mission to collect first samples from Mars moon Phobos JAXA's MMX mission aims to land on Mars' moon Phobos, collect surface samples, and return them to Earth by 2031 to determine the moon's origins through international scientific collaboration. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jaxa-mmx-mission-to-collect-first-samples-from-mars-moon-phobos --- Cite as: JAXA MMX Martian moon exploration mission. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/jaxa-mmx-martian-moon-exploration-mission