Japan prepares MMX launch to gather Martian moon samples
Japan plans to launch an uncrewed spacecraft on 19 October to collect samples from the Martian moon Phobos and return them to Earth.
FTMQ Space, written by our newsroom0 views
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is preparing to launch its Martian Moons eXploration mission from the Tanegashima Space Center on 19 October 2026. Aviation Week reported that the uncrewed spacecraft aims to study the moons of Mars and collect a soil sample from Phobos to deliver back to Earth. India Today reported that the launch is scheduled for Tuesday, with plans to bring rock samples back in 2031. [1][2][5][6]
The primary objective of the robotic MMX spacecraft is to collect a 10-gram sample from the surface of Phobos, according to Aviation Week. As FTMQ Space reported earlier, NASA is providing key hardware and scientific contributions to the Japanese-led robotic mission. [1][5][6]
The targets of the mission are the two irregular Martian moons, Phobos and Deimos. Both moons were discovered by the American astronomer Asaph Hall in August 1877. [4][5]
If the mission succeeds, Aviation Week noted that MMX will deliver the first samples collected from the Martian moon system back to Earth. [1]
In short
- Japan plans to launch the MMX spacecraft from Tanegashima Space Center on 19 October 2026.
- The MMX mission aims to gather a 10-gram soil sample from the Martian moon Phobos.
- India Today reported that the spacecraft is planned to return the samples in 2031.
- NASA is contributing key hardware and scientific expertise to the JAXA-led mission.
Sources
Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.
- [1]Japan Poised To Launch Mission To Martian MoonsAviation Week, 4h ago (the report this story comes from)
- [2]Japan to launch spacecraft to Martian moon Phobos on Tuesday, bring back rocks in 2031India Today, 15h ago
Background
- [3]List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches on Wikipedia
- [4]Moons of Mars on Wikipedia
- [5]NASA details role in JAXA Martian Moons eXploration sample return mission FTMQ Space, 1d ago
- [6]NASA Previews Role in Japanese Martian Moons Sample Return Mission FTMQ Space, 7d ago
Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 6 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.
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