NASA details role in JAXA Martian Moons eXploration sample return mission

NASA reported on 15 October 2026 that it is participating in the Martian Moons eXploration mission, an uncrewed project led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The mission is scheduled to launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan at 3:41 p.m. EDT on Monday, 19 October 2026, which is 4:41 a.m. JST on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. As FTMQ Space reported earlier, NASA held a media teleconference on 15 October to outline its specific hardware and science contributions to the effort. [1][7][11][12]

The primary objectives of the uncrewed spacecraft are to study Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos, determine their origin, and collect physical samples from Phobos to send back to Earth. NASA News confirmed that the spacecraft will characterize both moons to advance scientific understanding of the Martian system. [1][7]

The two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, have irregular shapes. Both were discovered by the American astronomer Asaph Hall in August 1877 and were named after the twin figures from Greek mythology who accompanied Ares into battle. [9]

The mission aims to resolve long-standing questions about whether the moons are captured asteroids or the result of a major collision on Mars. By collecting and returning a sample directly from the surface of Phobos, the joint effort seeks to provide critical insights into the formation of the Red Planet and its surrounding satellites. [1][7][11]