A journey to Phobos: Japan's mission to uncover origins of Mars' mysterious moons, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Japan is set to launch the Mars Moons eXploration (MMX) mission on October 20, 2026, to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars's moons.
• The mission aims to uncover the formation of Phobos and Deimos, potentially shedding light on the origins of life in the solar system.
• The spacecraft will be launched on Japan's new H-3 rocket and is expected to take five years, with samples returning to Earth by 2031.
• The MMX mission is an international collaboration, including equipment and communication support from NASA and ESA.

Phobos Mission.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• The MMX mission seeks to understand if Phobos and Deimos are remnants of a celestial object impact on Mars or captured asteroids.
• Samples from Phobos are crucial for evaluating the moon's potential as a base for future manned missions to Mars.
• Phobos, approximately 20-30 kilometers in diameter, orbits Mars at about 6,000 kilometers, completing three orbits daily.
• The mission includes a flyby of Deimos to gather observations, as both moons are believed to have similar origins.
• The spacecraft, weighing about 5 tons, comprises three modules for propulsion, exploration, and sample return.
• It carries 13 instruments, including a French-German rover named Idenfix and a NASA sampling device.
• The Idenfix rover will land on Phobos first for a 100-day mission to explore the surface before the main sampling attempts.
• JAXA aims to collect at least 10 grams of soil from Phobos using both U.S. and Japanese sampling methods.
• Previous attempts by Russia to land on Phobos, including one in 2011, have been unsuccessful.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• MMX Mission: Japan's Mars Moons eXploration mission, designed to collect samples from Phobos and study Deimos.
• Phobos: The larger and inner of Mars's two natural satellites, characterized by an irregular, potato-like shape.
• Deimos: The smaller and outer of Mars's two natural satellites, also irregularly shaped and believed to have a similar origin to Phobos.
• H-3 rocket: Japan's new flagship launch vehicle, developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, designed for various satellite launches.