20 October, 2026, 07:30 pm
Last modified: 20 October, 2026, 07:30 pm
Japan has launched its ambitious Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission to investigate Phobos and Deimos, the two moons of Mars, and attempt the first-ever sample return from Phobos.
Led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the five-year mission will deploy the French-German Idefix rover to scout Phobos before a lander collects at least 10 grams of dust, soil, and rock. Scientists hope these samples will reveal whether Mars' moons are captured asteroids or remnants of an ancient collision. The spacecraft is expected to reach the Martian system in 2027, with the sample capsule scheduled to return to Earth in 2031. With contributions from NASA, CNES, DLR, and ESA, the $578 million mission represents a major international effort to investigate the origins of Mars' mysterious moons.