Konstantin Sukharnikov Scientific instrumentation

A hobby. An independent overview compiled from public sources by a science and space enthusiast. I am not involved in these missions or facilities; my own work is detector electronics at European XFEL. My projects →

Mission · Mars

Martian Moons eXploration (MMX)

Orbiter, lander and sample return, with the IDEFIX rover (CNES/DLR)

Status
Cruise
Launched
19 Oct 2026
Target
Mars and its moon Phobos (with flybys of Deimos)
Agencies
JAXA, CNES, DLR, NASA, ESA
Next
2027 arrival at Mars, about a year after launch

Summary

A Japanese mission to orbit Phobos, land, collect samples and bring them back to Earth. If it succeeds, these will be the first samples from the Mars system. It carries the French–German IDEFIX rover and instruments from NASA and ESA.

Now as of 3 Nov 2026

Launched on 19 October 2026 at 19:41 UTC (20 October, 04:41 Japan time) on an H3-24L rocket (flight F10) from Tanegashima (Space.com, nippon.com). The spacecraft is on its way to Mars. It is the only interplanetary launch of the 2026 Mars window.

Key dates

  1. 19 Oct 2026Launch (H3-24L F10, Tanegashima)done
  2. 2027Arrival at Mars, transfer to an orbit near Phobosplanned
  3. ≈ 2029Rover landing and sample collection (date to be set)planned
  4. 2031Sample capsule returns to Earthplanned

Timeline

  1. 19 Oct 2026Successful launch — Space.com, ESA
  2. 20 Aug 2026JAXA announces the launch date — JAXA