The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), launched on October 20 to investigate the origin of Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos. The mission aims to collect 10 grams of material from Phobos and return it to Earth by the second half of 2031.
The MMX spacecraft consists of three modules: a propulsion module for transit and orbit insertion, an exploration module for science instruments and the rover, and a return module. Due to Phobos' microgravity, the craft will utilize a quasi-satellite orbit, moving in an elongated ellipse relative to the moon.
The mission includes the Idefix rover, developed by JAXA, CNES, and DLR. In 2028 or early 2029, the rover will be deployed from an altitude of 40 to 100 meters. The 23-kilogram vehicle is designed to land without traditional support legs, using its solar panels for cushioning and four retractable legs to stabilize itself.
Idefix will operate for 100 Earth days, moving at a maximum speed of one millimeter per second. Its wheels feature paddle-like blades to maintain traction in low-gravity conditions. Two WheelCam cameras will study the regolith, providing data on surface particle size and cohesion to assist in selecting a landing site for the main spacecraft.
