JAXA Launches Historic Mission to Return Samples from Mars' Moon Phobos
The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission has launched, beginning a multi-year effort to study Phobos and bring the first samples back to Earth.
The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has initiated a historic new phase in planetary science with the launch of its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. This endeavor is designed not only to investigate the geology of Mars’ smaller companions but also to achieve the landmark goal of returning the first physical samples collected from Phobos to Earth.
The mission officially launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. It used an H3 rocket for its departure, beginning a five-year journey focused on investigating Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, and studying their composition, as detailed by Space.com’s report on the launch.
MMX falls under the umbrella of planetary science, specifically the study of Martian Moons eXploration. The objective is to collect and deliver materials from Phobos, making the mission a crucial step in understanding the solar system’s early history.
The investigation into these two small satellites will use a sophisticated suite of instruments. NASA’s MEGANE instrument is among them, and it will be used to help characterize the elemental composition of the moons as the spacecraft travels through the solar system, according to NASA Science’s documentation of the mission.
While the launch was confirmed for October 19, 2026, other reporting places the official departure date slightly later, on October 20, 2026. Regardless of the exact day, the mission sets out to look at both moons—Phobos and Deimos—as part of a comprehensive study of the inner Martian environment.