Japan's MMX Probe Begins Journey to Bring Back Samples From a Martian Moon
Japan's space agency launched the Martian Moons Exploration spacecraft on Oct. 19. The mission will survey Phobos and Deimos, then try to land on Phobos and return rocky material to Earth. Scientists say the samples could clarify how the moons formed and shed light on Mars's past.
Japan’s MMX craft lifted off aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center. Built with NASA, ESA and other partners, the camper-van-sized probe separated from its launch fairing and soon passed its first critical operations checkpoint. It now faces a roughly 140 million-mile cruise expected to last about 10 months.
The mission was previously slated for 2024 but was postponed over H3 rocket concerns. After reaching Mars in August 2027, MMX will examine Phobos and Deimos before attempting a Phobos landing. Its infrared spectrometer, MIRS, counts Paris Observatory astronomer Sonia Fornasier as a project scientist.
If the samples return, researchers studying planetary formation and Mars’s history could gain rare material for analysis. Space agencies and partner industries may draw lessons for future robotic missions, while educators and the public may see renewed interest in planetary science. The mission’s benefits would likely unfold over years and depend on successful landing and return.