Japan launches MMX probe to Mars moon Phobos, aiming to return samples in 2031
In short
Japan's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe lifted off early on 20 October on an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center. It is meant to study Phobos in detail, collect samples and bring them to Earth in 2031, according to Chinese outlets.
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IT Home said the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe was launched early on 20 October, Beijing time, and that an H3 rocket lifted off from pad 2 of the Yoshinobu launch site at the Tanegashima Space Center. CLS and 36Kr also reported a launch early on 20 October, and said the probe will observe Phobos in detail and bring samples back to Earth. The mission is led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); 36Kr, citing Xinhua, said NASA, France's CNES, Germany's DLR and the European Space Agency also take part. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
IT Home said this was the tenth launch of the two-stage H3, which JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries developed jointly. Four solid boosters separated in pairs after nearly two minutes of flight. About 1 hour 4 minutes after launch the upper stage fired a second time for about 6 minutes 25 seconds, raising MMX's top speed to about 38,858 km/h. MMX was released from the upper stage about 71 minutes after launch, as scheduled, and cheers could be heard in the mission control centre in JAXA's live stream, IT Home said. [ 1 ]
IT Home said the trip to Mars should take about 10 months, with arrival expected in August 2027; 36Kr said about one year. The probe is then to enter a quasi-satellite orbit around Phobos. According to 36Kr, it will survey dozens of sites on Phobos, including their terrain and chemical composition, and choose a landing site. [ 1 , 3 ]
IT Home said MMX will land on Phobos twice, collect samples and store them in a return capsule; 36Kr put the target at more than 10 grams of surface sand and rock. IT Home added that the probe carries the IDEFIX rover, built by the French and German space agencies and planned to land on Phobos in late 2028 or early 2029. MMX is to stay in the Mars system for about three years and fly past Deimos several times, then leave for Earth in November 2030. If all goes well, IT Home said, the capsule will land in Australia in 2031. [ 1 , 3 ]
IT Home said scientists hope the samples will answer the decades-old question of how Phobos and Deimos formed. It described two competing possibilities: that the moons formed from Martian material thrown out by a giant impact, or that they are asteroids captured by Mars's gravity. Among NASA's contributions, IT Home listed the MEGANE gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, a pneumatic sampler from Honeybee Robotics and Deep Space Network communications support. It also said NASA's investment is about 87 million dollars. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
IT Home said that if all goes to plan, MMX would be the first probe to land on Phobos and return samples, which scientists hope will help settle how Mars's moons formed. IT Home and 36Kr described the mission as involving several space agencies.
Key facts
- Japan's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) probe was launched early on 20 October, Beijing time, on an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The mission is led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); 36Kr, citing Xinhua, named NASA, France's CNES, Germany's DLR and the European Space Agency as participants. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The probe is to observe Phobos in detail, try to land on it and collect at least 10 grams of surface sand and rock, 36Kr reported, citing Xinhua. [ 3 ]
- IT Home said the trip to Mars should take about 10 months, with arrival expected in August 2027. [ 1 ]
- The probe is to start its return in 2030 and bring the samples to Earth in 2031. [ 1 , 3 ]
- IT Home said the launch was the tenth of the two-stage H3 rocket, which JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries developed jointly. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The MMX probe was launched early on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The probe is to observe Phobos and return samples to Earth. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The mission is led by JAXA and involves other space agencies including NASA and the European Space Agency. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The samples are due back on Earth in 2031. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether MMX will land on Phobos and bring samples back as planned. IT Home framed the first landing on Phobos and sample return conditionally, saying 'if all goes to plan'; the landings and return are still years away.
- How Phobos and Deimos formed. IT Home said there are two competing theories and contradictory observations; scientists hope the samples will settle the question.
- How long the trip to Mars will take. IT Home gave about 10 months with arrival in August 2027, while 36Kr said about one year.