Overview
- MMX, which lifted off Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026 from Tanegashima on an H3 rocket, is now on a roughly one-year cruise to Mars for arrival and Phobos operations in 2027.
- The spacecraft aims to land on Phobos, collect at least 10 grams of regolith using a pressurised-gas scoop and a roughly 2 cm corer, and return sealed samples to Earth in 2031.
- Instruments on board include NASA's MEGANE gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer and a small European rover that will map surface chemistry and help pick sampling sites.
- A primary science goal is to determine whether Phobos formed as a captured asteroid or from a giant impact, and to search the samples for rare Martian ejecta that might include softer sedimentary material.
- The successful H3 launch restores confidence in Japan's launcher and builds on Hayabusa heritage, with results that could shape future low-gravity landings and the idea of using Phobos as a nearby platform for Mars exploration.