Japan’s MMX Mission Wants to Bring Martian Moon Samples Back to Earth
JAXA is leading an international mission to reach Mars’ Phobos moon and bring soil back to Earth. If successful, it could unlock new clues about the history of the solar system.
Japan's MMX mission aims to bring Martian moon samples back to Earth, despite a history of failed attempts. Led by JAXA and international collaborators, the mission will launch from Tanegashima Space Center, with the spacecraft reaching Mars and its moons Phobos and Deimos. Scientists are eager to learn more about Phobos' origin, with some theories suggesting it may be an asteroid captured by Mars' gravity or formed from a collision between a young Mars and a large asteroid.
MMX will survey the moon using various instruments, including MEGANE, which will measure elemental composition. After examining Phobos and a rover will explore the terrain, the spacecraft will land on Phobos to collect samples using two methods. The goal is to return these samples to Earth by 2031, making them the first returned from a moon other than Earth.
The mission faces significant challenges, but international collaboration and JAXA's experience with prior sample-return missions give the team confidence in their ability to succeed.
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