Japan prepares to bring back the first samples of Mars’ moon Phobos
The spacecraft aims to collect at least 10 grams of surface material, then return a sample capsule to Earth in 2031 for recovery in Australia.
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft flew past Mars and revealed breathtaking views of Mars’ surface.
Japan is preparing to launch a mission to collect pieces of Phobos, a small, crater-covered moon of Mars, and bring them to Earth for the first time.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Martian Moons eXploration mission, or MMX, aims to uncover how Mars’ moons formed and reveal clues about the solar system’s history. Its five-year journey could help scientists understand how water and other ingredients needed for life reached rocky planets.
When did Japan launch the Phobos mission?
MMX launched aboard H3 Flight No. 10 from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center on Oct. 20, 2026, at 04:41:03 JST. That is 3:41 p.m. EDT on Monday, Oct. 19, in the United States.
JAXA streamed live coverage about an hour before liftoff, giving viewers a chance to follow preparations for the spacecraft’s departure.
What makes Phobos so unusual?
Phobos, the larger of Mars' two moons, is seen in this image taken by NASA's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. (Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona)
Phobos is the larger of Mars’ two moons, measuring roughly 17 miles across its longest dimension. It circles Mars three times a day and has no atmosphere, according to NASA.
Its dusty surface experiences dramatic temperature swings with measurements ranging from 25 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 170 degrees.
The moon is also slowly spiraling toward Mars. NASA estimates it could crash into the planet or break apart into a ring in about 50 million years.
How will MMX collect samples and bring them home?
Propulsion Module (L) and Exploration and Return Modules (R), making up the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft, are seen at the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane, Kagoshima prefecture on August 13, 2026. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP via Getty Images)
After reaching the Mars system in 2027, MMX will study Phobos and select locations for two planned landings. The spacecraft aims to collect at least 10 grams of surface material, then return a sample capsule to Earth in 2031 for recovery in Australia.
MMX will also observe Mars’ smaller moon, Deimos.
Scientists will analyze the samples to investigate the moons’ origins and better understand how Mars evolved while testing technology needed for future exploration.
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