Japan's MMX probe is on its way to the moons of Mars after a clean H3 launch
The spacecraft aims to land on Phobos and bring the first sample from the Mars system back to Earth in 2031.
JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center at 04:41:03 Japan time on Tuesday aboard H3 flight No. 10. About 71 minutes after launch the probe separated from the rocket on its planned orbit, and JAXA later confirmed it was in a stable state.12
The plan
MMX is expected to reach the vicinity of Mars about a year after launch. It will then spend around three years near the planet, studying its two moons, Phobos and Deimos, and attempting to land on Phobos twice to collect material. After about a year's journey home, it is due to deliver at least 10 grams of Phobos to Earth in Japanese fiscal 2031.34
No mission has yet brought back a sample from the Mars system. MMX builds on the technology of the Hayabusa2 asteroid sample-return mission.4
Partners on board
The spacecraft carries Idefix, a 25-kilogram rover built by the French and German space agencies CNES and DLR, and NASA's MEGANE instrument, which will measure the composition of Phobos. On the moon's surface, the rover will weigh the equivalent of about 15 grams.35
Transfers 乗換
Where these facts come from. Numbers in the text lead here.
- 1JAXALaunch result of the MMX spacecraft aboard H3 Launch Vehicle flight No.10
- 2NHK火星衛星探査機MMX打ち上げ成功 安定した状態を確認
- 3ESAMMX factsheet
- 4JAXAMartian Moons eXploration leaflet (PDF)
- 5NASAMMX mission page
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