Japan plans mission to collect and return first samples from Martian moon Phobos

The short version

• The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is preparing to launch the Martian Moons eXploration probe on October 20, 2026.
• The $345 million mission aims to collect at least 10 grams of material from Phobos and return the samples to Earth in 2031.
• Data from the mission could resolve scientific debates over whether Mars' moons are captured asteroids or debris from a massive planetary collision.
• The spacecraft will rely on autonomous navigation to navigate and land on Phobos due to communication delays of up to 20 minutes.

Key facts

• The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is scheduled to launch from Tanegashima Space Center on October 20, 2026, marking Japan's first Mars mission launch in 28 years.[Wired]
• The project costs approximately $345 million and targets returning at least 10 grams of Phobos surface samples to Earth by 2031.[Wired]
• The mission timeline includes roughly one year to reach Mars, three years of local operations including a Deimos flyby, and one year for the return flight.[Wired]
• The spacecraft will deploy a French-German rover named IDEFIX to explore the surface for roughly 100 days ahead of the main landing.[Wired]
• Sample collection tools include a robotic drill for core samples and a NASA-developed pneumatic mechanism using nitrogen gas to capture dust particles.[Wired]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Japan Is Launching a Probe to Collect the First-Ever Samples From a Martian MoonWired metered