Japan's MMX Mission

Japanese scientists prepare first round trip to Mars moon Phobos to collect samples.

“The sampling (from) Phobos is of course the world’s first, but it means… this is the first round trip to the Martian system”

MMX Mission Details

MMX probe launches Tuesday at 4:41 am PKT from Tanegashima Space Centre.

Mission Timeline

Spacecraft arrives near Mars one year later for up to three years of orbit around Phobos.

Rover IDEFIX

Rover IDEFIX conducts surface observations for safe Phobos landing.

Project Manager Statement

Project manager says Phobos sampling is world’s first round trip to Martian system.

“The sampling (from) Phob: Phobos is of course the world’s first, but it means… this is the first round trip to the Martian system”

JAXA's Goals

JAXA aims to explore Phobos as natural space station for crewed Mars missions.

Mars Moon Origins

Scientists debate how Mars moons formed: giant impact or capture theories.

Astrophysicist Insight

French astrophysicist links Phobos samples to life's origins on Earth.

International Collaboration

MMX involves France, Germany, NASA, ESA and 20 universities and tech companies.

Phobos Landing Challenge

Phobos has extremely weak gravity making landing difficult.

Past Space Successes

Japan has returned asteroid samples with Hayabusa-2 mission.

China's Mars Mission

China plans Mars sample return by 2031, potentially before Japan's mission.

Scientific Significance

Phobos samples could reveal how life began on Earth.