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News: Japan is set to launch the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission to study Mars’s moons and bring back samples from Phobos.
About Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Mission
- MMX is a Japanese space mission to study the moons of Mars i.e. Phobos and Deimos and return a sample from Phobos to Earth.
- Led by: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
- Partnership: The mission involves NASA, the French space agency (CNES), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and the European Space Agency (ESA).
- Launched From: It is scheduled to launch aboard Japan’s H-3 rocket.
- Aim: The mission aims to study the formation and composition of Mars’s moons and explore their history.
- Timeline: The spacecraft is planned for launch on 19 October 2026.
- It will reach the Mars region after about one year, study Phobos for three years and return to Earth in 2031.
- Key Features:
- Sample Collection: The mission aims to collect at least 10 grams of soil from Phobos using two sampling methods.
- Scientific Instruments: The spacecraft will carry 13 instruments, including a rover jointly developed by France and Germany.
- NASA’s Technological Support: The MEGANE (Mars-moon Exploration with GAmma rays and NEutrons) instrument will help identify the elements present on Phobos.
- NASA is also providing a pneumatic sampler that uses high-pressure nitrogen gas to collect surface particles.
- Three Modules: The spacecraft consists of propulsion, exploration and return modules.
- Deimos Observation: The mission will also fly by Deimos and collect observations.
- Future Exploration: The mission will develop technologies for round-trip missions to Mars and support future human exploration.
