The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has scheduled the launch of its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission for October 20, 2026. The probe will lift off from the Tanegashima Space Center aboard an H3 rocket at 04:41 JST.
The mission aims to perform the first-ever sample return from Phobos, one of Mars' moons. The spacecraft is expected to reach the Martian system in August 2027 and enter orbit around Phobos in September 2027. The return of at least 10 grams of material to Earth is planned for 2031, with the capsule landing in Australia.
The MMX probe will deploy the Idefix rover to the surface of Phobos in early 2029. The main spacecraft is scheduled to land on the moon in 2030 to collect samples. During its return journey, the probe will conduct further observations of Deimos and Mars itself.
The mission carries 11 scientific instruments in total, with seven on the main probe and four on the rover. NASA is contributing the MEGANE instrument, the P-Sampler technology demonstrator, and providing communication and navigation support via its Deep Space Network.
The project is led by JAXA in collaboration with NASA, the French space agency CNES, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and the European Space Agency (ESA). Data and samples collected are intended to help determine the origin of the Martian moons.
