Japan launches mission to collect samples from Martian moon Phobos

Japan’s space agency, JAXA, launched the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe on 19 October 2026 from Tanegashima Space Center. The H3 rocket lifted off at 4:41 a.m. local time and carried the MMX spacecraft toward Mars. According to JAXA, the launch marked the first time a spacecraft will bring Martian moon material back to Earth.

MMX will travel to the Martian system and orbit the moon Phobos for about a year. According to JAXA, the spacecraft will perform two soft landings and deploy the rover Idefix. According to JAXA, Idefix will collect at least 10 grams of surface material from a depth of about 2 centimeters.

The collected samples will be sealed in a return capsule that will leave Phobos and travel back to Earth. According to JAXA, the capsule will land in South Australia in 2031. According to JAXA, the return flight will be the first Martian moon sample return to Earth.

According to JAXA, the mission is part of a collaboration between JAXA, ESA, NASA and DLR. According to DLR, the rover Idefix is built by its Institute for Robotics. According to JAXA, the mission aims to study the origins of water and organic matter on Mars. According to JAXA, the data may also help future human exploration of Mars.

According to JAXA, Phobos is a small, irregularly shaped moon that has never been explored before. According to JAXA, scientists believe it may preserve evidence of Mars’ early history. According to JAXA, studying Phobos may help researchers learn more about how Mars and its moons formed.

According to JAXA, the mission will last five years, from launch in 2026 to the return of samples in 2031. According to JAXA, the mission will also observe the second moon, Deimos, during its journey. According to JAXA, the data will be shared with the scientific community worldwide.