Martian Moons eXploration
An artist's concept of Mars Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft | |
| Names | MMX |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Sample-return mission |
| Operator | JAXA |
| Website | www |
| Mission duration | 5 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | JAXA |
| Launch mass | Propulsion module: 1800 kg Exploration module: 150 kg Return module: 1050 kg MMX Rover: 30 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2026 (planned) |
| Rocket | H3 |
| Launch site | Tanegashima, LA-Y |
| Contractor | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Phobos lander | |
| Landing date | 2027 (planned) |
| Return launch | 2031 (planned) |
| Sample mass | ≥10 g (0.35 oz) |
| Instruments | |
| TElescopic Nadir imager for GeOmOrphology (TENGOO) Optical RadiOmeter composed of CHromatic Imagers (OROCHI) Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) MMX InfraRed Spectrometer (MIRS) Mars-moon Exploration with GAmma rays and NEutrons (MEGANE) Circum-Martian Dust Monitor (CMDM) Mass Spectrum Analyzer (MSA) | |
Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) is a robotic space probe set for launch in 2026 to bring back the first samples from Mars' largest moon Phobos. Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and announced on 9 June 2015, MMX will land and collect samples from Phobos once or twice, along with conducting Deimos flyby observations and monitoring Mars's climate.
The mission aims to provide key information to help determine whether the Martian moons are captured asteroids or the result of a larger body hitting Mars. JAXA and other Japanese government officials officially approved the MMX project to proceed into development on 19 February 2020, according to a post on JAXA's website.