Japan's MMX Mission to Phobos Aims for First Martian Moon Sample Return to Australia by 2031
Japan's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft is set to embark on a mission to Phobos, one of Mars's moons, with the goal of collecting over 10 grams of material and returning it to Earth in Australia by 2031. This would mark the first time a sample has been deliberately brought back from the Martian system. The mission, led by JAXA, is scheduled for launch on an H3 rocket in Japanese fiscal year 2026, reaching Mars in 2027, and departing in 2030. European partners currently list an October 2026 launch. The mission involves flying alongside Phobos, deploying a small rover named IDEFIX, and performing a brief sampling stop with the main spacecraft. Phobos's gravity is approximately 1,700 times weaker than Earth's, posing unique challenges for landing and sample collection. The MMX spacecraft will spend three years studying Phobos and Deimos, with 11 instruments mapping the surface to identify optimal landing sites. Two distinct collection systems, the C-Sampler and P-Sampler, will be used to gather mat... 
