What Japanese mission, slated for late 2026, will travel to Mars, study its moons Phobos and Deimos, and collect a sample from Phobos?

Japan's upcoming Martian Moons eXploration, or MMX, mission, is a groundbreaking endeavor slated for launch in late 2026. This robotic probe will embark on a journey to the Martian (Review) sphere to meticulously study Mars's two enigmatic moons, Phobos and Deimos. A primary objective of the mission is to collect a sample from the surface of Phobos and return it to Earth for detailed analysis, marking the first time humanity will bring back material from the Martian moon system.

The MMX mission, led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with international partners, aims to unravel a long-standing mystery about the origin of Phobos and Deimos. Scientists currently debate whether these moons are captured asteroids or remnants from a colossal impact on early Mars. By collecting and analyzing samples from Phobos, MMX hopes to provide definitive answers, offering crucial insights into the formation of planetary systems and the early solar system.

Beyond the sample return, MMX will conduct extensive remote sensing observations of both Phobos and Deimos, mapping their surfaces and analyzing their composition, topography, and internal structure. The spacecraft will also deploy a small rover, named IDEFIX, on Phobos to further investigate its surface. This comprehensive study of the Martian moons, combined with the returned samples, will significantly enhance our understanding of the evolution of the Mars system and the processes that shaped the habitability of rocky planets.