TOKYO, Japan / AsiaWire.IO / – A Japanese spacecraft has begun its journey to Mars with the goal of exploring its two small moons and bringing back samples. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft, known as MMX, aboard an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center. The launch occurred just before dawn at 04:41 Japan time on Tuesday, October 20. Over the next five years, the mission aims to land a robotic spacecraft and a rover on Phobos.
Phobos, the larger and nearer of Mars’ two moons, is the primary target. MMX is anticipated to become the first spacecraft to orbit Phobos and to collect samples from its surface, as well as the first mission to return to Earth from the Mars system. JAXA is leading this effort in partnership with NASA, the French space agency CNES, the German Aerospace Center DLR, and the European Space Agency. The launch was successful as planned, and the separation of the spacecraft was confirmed later.
A key objective of this mission is to shed light on the long-standing debate regarding the origins of Mars’ moons. One theory, the giant impact hypothesis, suggests they formed after a large body collided with Mars. An alternative, the capture hypothesis, posits that they are asteroids from the outer Solar System captured by Mars’ gravity. JAXA states that remote sensing and detailed analysis of the returned samples will help determine their true origin.
International Collaborators Provide Rover and Scientific Instruments
The small rover IDEFIX, weighing less than 30 kg, was provided by CNES and DLR. It will land on Phobos ahead of the main spacecraft, testing wheeled mobility and studying how the surface responds to mechanical stimuli. NASA contributed a neutron and gamma-ray spectrometer called MEGANE. CNES also played a role in developing an infrared spectrometer and is providing expertise in flight dynamics. Overall, the spacecraft carries a total of seven scientific instruments.
ESA supplied deep space communication devices, including a transponder and power amplifier, and will support the mission through its Estrack network of ground stations. ESA project scientist Elliot Sefton-Nash praised Japan’s H3 launcher, stating it performed